When Arsenal bought Nicolas Pepe for a then-club record cost of £72 million, an arrangement was made with Lille to spread the payments over five years. As Nicolas Pepe's exit from Arsenal is announced, there are still rumors of 'overpaying' for the winger. In fact, the Gunners are still paying off the £72 million transfer fee they paid four years ago when they signed the Ivory Coast international from Ligue 1 club Lille after an impressive season in which he scored 23 goals and provided 12 assists in 41 appearances across all competitions. Back in 2020, a two-day meeting between Arsenal officials and Lille laid out the plan for staggered payments as is the norm with most large-money transactions.
Pepe eventually showed signs of living up to the weighty expectations placed on his shoulders after becoming Arsenal's club record signing, but he never quite reached those heights, and the mantle has since been taken over by Declan Rice.