Former Arsenal record signing is available for free transfer | OneFootball

Former Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe will be a free agent this summer, and he’s hoping to continue playing in Europe.

Nicolas Pepe with the Trabzonspor fans after his arrival at the airport (Photo via Trabzonspor on Twitter)

Former Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe joined Trabzonspor in the summer of 2023, officially signing his contract in September. But just eight months later, it looks like the 28-year-old is on the move again.

Fabrizio Romano reports that Pepe will be available as a free agent this summer, choosing to run down his one-year deal with the club.

The player has signed with new agents in BS Group, who also represent Mohamed Simakan and Castello Lukeba of RB Leipzig.

LEIPZIG, GERMANY: Mohamed Simakan of RB Leipzig runs with the ball during the Bundesliga match between RB Leipzig and SV Werder Bremen at Red Bull Arena on May 14, 2023. (Photo by Oliver Hardt/Getty Images)

Romano adds that Pepe has proposals from the Middle East and Saudi Arabia, but he’s still hoping to play in Europe next season.

The problem is that Pepe hasn’t had the most outstanding season in 2023/24.

For Trabzonspor, the former Arsenal record signing has scored five goals and assisted two in 20 appearances.

A couple of injuries limited his minutes, but the primary absence was for the Africa Cup of Nations, with Pepe missing 10 club games for the tournament.

With the Ivory Coast, Pepe played five times, starting twice and providing one assist. He also scored in the round-of-16 penalty shootout.

But he was dropped for the semi-final and final, which the team won without him.

Nicolas Pepe playing for the Ivory Coast (Photo via OGC Nice on Twitter)

That’s certainly not a bad season, but it’s not one that will have clubs jumping at the chance to pay Pepe anything like what he used to earn at Arsenal.

The upside is that he’s available on a free, so if any club is enticed by his profile, they’ll at least save money on a transfer fee.