Ligue 1: Arsenal winger Pepe joins Nice on loan

Ivory Coast international Nicolas Pepe has been loaned from Premier League club Arsenal to Nice on a one-year deal, the French Riviera side said on Thursday.

Pepe joined Arsenal from Lille in a blockbuster €80-million deal in August 2019 and has played 111 times for the Gunners.

There is no purchase clause in the loan deal and the 27-year-old may return to London next season.

“Everyone at Arsenal wishes Nico well in France with Nice next season,” Arsenal said.

New « Aiglon » in town 🦅🔴⚫️#OGCNice #Pepe pic.twitter.com/TxDzmv1yDB

— OGC Nice (@ogcnice) August 25, 2022

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“The winger notably ended his debut season being in the starting line-up for the 2020 FA Cup Final, setting up the winning goal in our 2-1 victory over Chelsea,” an Arsenal statement said.

Ambitious Nice, who are owned by Ineos petrochemical entrepreneur Jim Ratcliffe, came fifth in Ligue 1 last season and have already added another ex-Gunner Aaron Ramsey as well as Danish goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel as they attempt to challenge Paris St-Germain’s stranglehold on French football.