Nicolas Pepe is an Ivorian footballer whose career has taken him from French lower-league football to some of Europe’s biggest stages. Born in Mantes-la-Jolie, France, on May 29, 1995, Pépé developed into a left-footed attacker known for speed, dribbling, and his ability to create chances. He currently plays for Villarreal in La Liga and represents the Ivory Coast internationally. His journey has included standout years at Lille, a record-setting Arsenal transfer, and an Africa Cup of Nations triumph.
Pépé’s career has not followed a straight line. His breakthrough at Lille made him one of Europe’s most exciting attackers, while his time at Arsenal brought enormous expectations. After leaving England, he rebuilt his career in France, Turkey, and Spain. Villarreal has since become another important chapter in his story. His experience shows how quickly football careers can change and how talented players can find new opportunities after difficult periods.
Quick Bio Table Nicolas Pepe
| Information | Verified Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Nicolas Pepe |
| Date of Birth | May 29, 1995 |
| Birthplace | Mantes-la-Jolie, France |
| Nationality | Ivorian |
| Position | Winger / Forward |
| Preferred Foot | Left |
| Current Club | Villarreal CF |
| Current League | La Liga |
| Villarreal Shirt Number | 19 |
| Senior International Team | Ivory Coast |
| International Debut | 2016 |
| Early Club | Poitiers |
| Angers | Joined in 2013 |
| Orléans | Loan spell during 2015–16 |
| Lille | Joined in 2017 |
| Lille Career Highlight | Named in the 2018–19 UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year |
| Arsenal | Joined in 2019 |
| Arsenal Transfer Fee | Reported £72 million |
| Arsenal Major Honor | FA Cup winner, 2020 |
| Arsenal Community Shield | Winner, 2021 |
| Nice | Loaned from Arsenal in 2022–23 |
| Trabzonspor | Joined in 2023 |
| Villarreal | Joined in 2024 |
| Major International Honor | Africa Cup of Nations winner with Ivory Coast |
| AFCON Victory | 2023 tournament, played in early 2024 |
| 2025 LALIGA Recognition | LALIGA Player of the Month for August 2025 |
| Known For | Pace, dribbling, attacking ability and left-footed play |
| Career Status | Active professional footballer |
Who Is Nicolas Pépé?
Nicolas Pépé is a professional footballer who primarily operates as a winger or forward. Villarreal describes him as a left-footed attacker whose strongest qualities include speed, dribbling, and decisiveness around the opposition penalty area. He wears No. 19 for the Spanish club.
Although born in France, Pépé represents the Ivory Coast because of his Ivorian heritage. His international career began in 2016, and he became part of a generation that helped the national team win the Africa Cup of Nations in 2024, officially referring to the 2023 tournament played in January and February 2024. That achievement remains one of the biggest highlights of his career.
Early Life and Football Beginnings
Pépé was born in Mantes-la-Jolie in the Yvelines region of France. His early football development included time with Solitaire Paris Est and Poitiers. He eventually began his senior career with Stade Poitevin, taking his first steps in French football outside the top professional division.
His progress led him to Angers in 2013. Pépé also spent the 2015–16 season on loan at Orléans, where he gained valuable senior experience. That spell helped him develop before returning to Angers. His early years were not filled with instant fame, but they gave him the competitive foundation needed for a later breakthrough at Lille.
Nicolas Pépé’s Breakthrough at Lille
Pépé joined Lille in 2017 after developing at Angers. The move proved to be a major turning point. At Lille, he developed into a dangerous attacking player who could score, create opportunities, and trouble defenders with his pace and close control.
The 2018–19 season became his defining campaign in France. Pépé was named in the UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year, reflecting his outstanding performances. His form attracted attention from leading European clubs, and Arsenal eventually made a major move for him. His Lille performances transformed him from a promising French-based player into an international transfer target.
His Record Arsenal Transfer
In August 2019, Arsenal signed Pépé from Lille for a reported £72 million. At the time, the deal represented a club-record transfer fee for Arsenal. The move placed enormous expectations on the winger because of both his price and his impressive record in Ligue 1.
Pépé showed flashes of the talent that had made him so highly rated in France. He contributed goals and assists and also played a role in Arsenal’s 2020 FA Cup success. He later helped the club win the FA Community Shield in 2021. However, his overall Arsenal period did not reach the level many expected when he arrived.
What Happened to Nicolas Pépé at Arsenal?
Pépé spent three seasons with Arsenal before leaving on loan for Nice during the 2022–23 campaign. His time in London became complicated by competition for attacking positions and changing tactical demands. Although he produced memorable moments, he struggled to establish himself as a consistent first-choice player.
The loan move to Nice offered an opportunity to return to regular football in France. He scored six Ligue 1 goals during the 2022–23 league campaign according to career records, before eventually leaving Arsenal. The move marked the end of a chapter that had started with huge promise but ultimately failed to match the expectations created by his transfer fee.
Nicolas Pépé at Trabzonspor
After leaving Arsenal, Pépé continued his career in Turkey. He joined Trabzonspor for the 2023–24 season on a one-year contract. The move gave him another opportunity to play regular competitive football and experience a different football culture.
Pépé made 19 league appearances for Trabzonspor and scored five goals in the Turkish Süper Lig during that season, according to Opta Analyst’s career records. His time in Turkey was relatively short, but it provided another step in rebuilding his career after his Arsenal experience.
His Move to Villarreal
Pépé joined Villarreal in 2024, returning to one of Europe’s major football leagues. The Spanish club became his latest opportunity to demonstrate that he could still perform at a high level after several changes of scenery.
Villarreal’s official profile highlights his technical strengths, particularly his pace, dribbling, and ability around the box. His performances in Spain have included important goals and assists, and he has also featured for the club in European competition. His 2025–26 season included eight La Liga goals and eight assists according to Opta’s career data, showing a productive period in Spain.
Nicolas Pépé and the Ivory Coast National Team
Pépé made his senior debut for the Ivory Coast in 2016. Since then, he has represented the national team at several major tournaments, including multiple Africa Cup of Nations competitions. His international career has become an important part of his identity because he chose to represent the country of his family heritage despite being born in France.
One of his biggest achievements came with Ivory Coast’s Africa Cup of Nations triumph. The tournament was officially the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations but was played in Ivory Coast in early 2024. Pépé was part of the squad that lifted the trophy, giving him a major international honor alongside his club achievements.
His Playing Style
Pépé is naturally left-footed and has traditionally been most effective when starting from a wide attacking position. His pace allows him to attack space, while his dribbling can create one-on-one opportunities against defenders. He can also move inside from the wing and look for shooting or passing opportunities.
His style has often relied on quick changes of direction and attacking movement. Villarreal specifically highlights his speed, ability to beat opponents, and effectiveness near the penalty area. Those qualities helped him become such a productive attacker at Lille and remain central to how he contributes in Spain.
Nicolas Pépé’s Major Career Honors
Pépé has collected important honors at both club and international level. With Arsenal, he won the FA Cup in 2020 and the FA Community Shield in 2021. Those trophies came during a period when the club was undergoing significant changes.
His most important international honor arrived with Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations. Winning that tournament added a major achievement to a career that had already included standout performances in Ligue 1. His individual recognition at Lille also remains significant, as he earned a place in the 2018–19 UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year.
Nicolas Pépé’s Career After Arsenal
Leaving Arsenal allowed Pépé to reset his career. His moves to Nice, Trabzonspor, and Villarreal showed a willingness to take different routes rather than remain defined by his expensive transfer to England.
His later years have also demonstrated resilience. At Villarreal, he has again competed in one of Europe’s strongest domestic leagues and featured in European competition. Rather than being remembered only for his Arsenal transfer, Pépé has continued to build a broader career that includes success with Ivory Coast and productive spells in Spain.
Nicolas Pépé’s Current Career
As of September 2026, Pépé remains a Villarreal player. Villarreal’s official profile lists him as a 31-year-old Ivory Coast international wearing No. 19. LaLiga also lists him with Villarreal and records two goals in his early 2026–27 league appearances.
His current chapter is important because it gives him the chance to continue competing at a high level after a career filled with major transfers and changes. At Villarreal, he has the experience of playing in France, England, Turkey, and Spain behind him. That background has made him a more experienced and adaptable player than the young winger who first attracted worldwide attention at Lille.
Why Nicolas Pépé Remains a Notable Footballer
Pépé remains an interesting football figure because his career contains both spectacular highs and difficult periods. His rise at Lille established him as one of Ligue 1’s leading attackers, while his Arsenal transfer made him one of the most expensive players in the club’s history.
Yet his story did not end when his Arsenal spell became disappointing. He continued playing, won a major international trophy with Ivory Coast, and rebuilt his club career in Spain. That ability to keep moving forward has become an important part of his football journey. His career is therefore about more than one transfer or one difficult period.
Conclusion
Nicolas Pépé’s career has taken him from the lower levels of French football to Lille, Arsenal, Nice, Trabzonspor, and Villarreal. Along the way, he became a Ligue 1 standout, earned a major Arsenal transfer, won domestic trophies, and established himself as an Ivory Coast international. His career has included setbacks, but each new chapter has offered another chance to prove his quality.
Today, Pépé continues his career with Villarreal and remains part of the Ivory Coast football story. His speed, dribbling, and attacking ability continue to define his game. The Africa Cup of Nations title adds a major international achievement to his résumé, while his continued presence in La Liga shows that his football journey is still developing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Nicolas Pépé?
Nicolas Pépé is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays as an attacker for Villarreal.
When was Nicolas Pépé born?
Nicolas Pépé was born on May 29, 1995, in Mantes-la-Jolie, France.
What position does Nicolas Pépé play?
He primarily plays as a winger or forward and is naturally left-footed.
Which club does Nicolas Pépé play for?
As of September 2026, Pépé plays for Villarreal in La Liga.
How much did Arsenal pay for Nicolas Pépé?
Arsenal signed Pépé from Lille for a reported £72 million in 2019.
Did Nicolas Pépé win the Africa Cup of Nations?
Yes, he was part of Ivory Coast’s squad that won the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, played in early 2024.
Which teams has Nicolas Pépé played for?
His senior career includes Poitiers, Angers, Orléans, Lille, Arsenal, Nice, Trabzonspor, and Villarreal.
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