Arsenal have signed Ivorian winger Nicolas Pepe from Lille for a club record fee of £72m.
The 24-year-old has been confirmed for a five-year contract at Emirates Stadium after having a medical on Tuesday.
Pepe joined Lille from Angers in 2017 and scored 35 goals in 74 Ligue 1 appearances for Lille.
“Being here is very emotional,” said Pepe. “I have come a long way and struggled a lot and so signing for this great club is a big reward.”
He becomes the fourth most expensive signing in the history of Premier League after Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku of Manchester United (£89m) and £75 respectively), and Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk (£75m).
Pepe added: “It was important to make the right decision and I am convinced that Arsenal is the right choice”
During the 2018-19 Ligue 1 season, only Kylian Mbappe of Paris St-Germain’s had more goals and assists combined than Pepe, who will cleave onto the number 19 shirt for Arsenal.
“Nicolas is a highly rated and talented winger who was wanted by many of the top teams in Europe,” said Gunners boss Unai Emery.
“Signing a top-class winger has been one of our key objectives in this transfer window and I’m delighted he’s joining.
“He will add pace, power and creativity, with the aim of bringing more goals to our team.”
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