Nicolas Pépé is an Ivorian professional footballer known for his pace, dribbling, left-footed finishing, and ability to play across the attacking line. Born in Mantes-la-Jolie, France, on May 29, 1995, he developed his football career in France before becoming one of Lille’s most exciting attacking players and earning a major move to Arsenal. He currently plays for Villarreal in La Liga.
Pépé’s career has taken him through several countries and competitions, including France, England, Turkey, and Spain. His biggest breakthrough came during his outstanding 2018–19 campaign with Lille, while his international career with Côte d’Ivoire eventually brought him an Africa Cup of Nations title. His journey from lower-level French football to major European clubs remains an important part of his biography.
Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Nicolas Pépé |
| Date of Birth | May 29, 1995 |
| Age | 31 years old |
| Birthplace | Mantes-la-Jolie, France |
| Nationality | Ivorian |
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft) |
| Position | Forward / Right Winger |
| Preferred Foot | Left |
| Current Club | Villarreal |
| Shirt Number | 19 |
| Professional Debut | Poitiers |
| Major Former Clubs | Angers, Orléans, Lille, Arsenal, Nice, Trabzonspor |
| International Team | Côte d’Ivoire |
| Africa Cup of Nations | Winner, 2023 |
| FA Cup | Winner, 2020 |
The basic profile information above is supported by Villarreal, the Premier League, and LaLiga, which list Pépé’s birth date, height, position, nationality, and current club details. Villarreal’s official profile also identifies him as a left-footed forward and lists his previous clubs and major honours.
Early Life and Family Background
Nicolas Pépé was born in Mantes-la-Jolie in the Île-de-France region of France and grew up in a family of Ivorian background. His father, Célestin Pépé, worked as a prison guard, and the family later moved to Poitiers after his father’s transfer. That move became important in Nicolas’s football development because it brought him into the local football system.
Interestingly, Pépé did not begin his football journey as a forward. He initially played as a goalkeeper for Solitaire Paris Est before moving into an outfield role as a teenager. His transition helped shape the attacking instincts that later became one of his defining characteristics, and he eventually joined Poitiers, where he began his senior career in French football.
Nicolas Pepe’s Football Career
Pépé started his senior career with Poitiers before joining Angers in 2013. He also spent the 2015–16 season on loan at Orléans, where he gained valuable senior experience and developed as an attacking player. After returning to Angers, he eventually made the move to Lille in 2017, a transfer that would transform his career.
At Lille, Pépé became one of Ligue 1’s standout attackers, particularly during the 2018–19 season. His performances earned him recognition in the UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year, while his goals and assists attracted attention from some of Europe’s biggest clubs. That remarkable campaign ultimately led to his high-profile transfer to Arsenal in the summer of 2019.
Arsenal Career and Record Transfer
Arsenal signed Pépé in 2019 in a deal widely reported at £72 million, making him the club’s record signing at the time. He arrived in London after an exceptional season at Lille, with supporters expecting him to become a major attacking figure. He made an immediate contribution during his first campaign and helped Arsenal win the FA Cup in 2020.
His Premier League career produced 80 appearances and 16 goals, according to the league’s official statistics. His strongest Premier League season came in 2020–21, when he scored 10 league goals, while he also contributed in European competition. Although his Arsenal spell included memorable moments, he eventually left the club after three seasons and continued his career elsewhere.
Career After Arsenal
During the 2022–23 season, Pépé joined OGC Nice on loan from Arsenal. The move gave him an opportunity to return to French football and play more regularly, and he finished the league campaign with six goals according to career records. His time at Nice was followed by a move away from Arsenal as he sought a fresh chapter in his professional career.
In 2023, Pépé joined Turkish club Trabzonspor on a one-year deal. He scored five league goals during his time in Turkey before moving to Spain and signing for Villarreal in 2024. Villarreal’s official biography confirms his route through Angers, Orléans, Lille, Arsenal, Nice, and Trabzonspor before arriving at the Spanish club.
Nicolas Pepe at Villarreal
Pépé joined Villarreal as a free agent in 2024 and became part of the club’s attacking options in La Liga. His experience in the Premier League, Ligue 1, Turkish football, and international competition gives him a broad European football background. Villarreal describes his speed, dribbling ability, and effectiveness around the opposition penalty area as key characteristics of his game.
As of September 2026, Villarreal’s official profile lists Pépé as a 31-year-old forward wearing No. 19. His 2026–27 campaign has included five La Liga appearances, 412 minutes, and two goals at the time of the club’s latest published statistics. LaLiga also lists him with two goals from five league appearances during the 2026–27 season.
International Career With Côte d’Ivoire
Although Pépé was born in France, he represents Côte d’Ivoire at international level. He made his senior international debut in 2016 and became part of the Ivorian national team during several major tournaments. His international career has included appearances at the Africa Cup of Nations and, more recently, the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
One of the biggest achievements of Pépé’s international career came at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, which Côte d’Ivoire won on home soil. Villarreal lists the Africa Cup of Nations among his major honours, while French football publication L’Équipe records the 2023 tournament as an international title for Pépé.
Nicolas Pepe’s Playing Style
Pépé is primarily recognized as a left-footed attacking player who can operate from the right side or through central attacking positions. His acceleration, close control, dribbling, and ability to cut inside onto his stronger left foot have been central to his playing style. His previous experience as a goalkeeper also gives an interesting background to the development of his football instincts.
His Premier League statistics illustrate the attacking side of his game. Across 80 Premier League appearances, he recorded 16 goals and nine assists, while 13 of his 16 league goals came with his left foot. These figures help explain why his ability to create shooting opportunities from the right side became such a recognizable part of his game.
Nicolas Pepe Net Worth
Nicolas Pépé’s exact net worth is not publicly verified, and published estimates vary considerably. Some online sources place his wealth around $25 million to $30 million, but these figures should be treated as estimates rather than confirmed financial information because footballers’ private assets, investments, taxes, and contracts are not fully public.
Much of Pépé’s financial profile comes from his professional football career, including salaries and transfer-related earnings. His 2019 move to Arsenal was a £72 million transfer between clubs, but that fee should not be confused with the player’s personal earnings. His long career in top European leagues has nevertheless provided multiple sources of professional football income.
Nicolas Pepe Salary and Sources of Income
Pépé’s primary source of income has been his football career. During his years with Arsenal and other European clubs, his earnings came through player contracts, while additional income can come from commercial partnerships and football-related activities. Exact current salary figures are not consistently confirmed by official club sources, so reported salary numbers should be treated cautiously.
His career earnings have also been influenced by the level of clubs he has represented. Playing for Lille, Arsenal, Nice, Trabzonspor, and Villarreal has kept him within major European football markets. However, without access to his complete private financial records, it is not possible to establish an exact total of his career earnings or current personal wealth.
Nicolas Pepe Family and Personal Life
Pépé has generally kept much of his private life away from the spotlight compared with his football career. Publicly available biographical information confirms his Ivorian family background and his father’s occupation as a prison guard, but detailed information about other relatives is less consistently documented by authoritative sources.
Some entertainment and sports publications have reported details about Pépé’s former relationship and children, but those reports are not as consistently documented as his professional football record. For that reason, the most reliable picture of his personal life comes from information he has publicly shared and established biographical records rather than unverified claims circulating online.
Nicolas Pepe’s Major Achievements
Pépé’s individual career highlights include his selection in the UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year for the 2018–19 season, when he was one of Lille’s most productive attackers. He also received other Ligue 1 recognition during that period, helping establish his reputation before his move to Arsenal.
At club level, he won the FA Cup with Arsenal in 2020 and the FA Community Shield in 2021. At international level, his biggest trophy came with Côte d’Ivoire at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. These honours form an important part of his career as he continues his professional journey with Villarreal.
Where Is Nicolas Pepe Now?
As of 2026, Nicolas Pépé is playing for Villarreal in Spain’s La Liga. The club’s official profile lists him as a forward and confirms his continued involvement with the first team. His current campaign has already included goals, showing that he remains an active part of Villarreal’s attacking setup.
At 31, Pépé is in a later stage of a career that has already taken him through several major football environments. From starting in lower-level French football to becoming Arsenal’s record signing and later winning the Africa Cup of Nations, his career has included significant changes in clubs, countries, and playing roles.
Conclusion
Nicolas Pépé’s biography is a story of progression through different levels of European football. His journey began in France, developed through Angers and Lille, reached a major milestone with his record-setting Arsenal transfer, and continued through Nice, Trabzonspor, and Villarreal. His combination of speed, technique, and left-footed attacking ability has remained central to his identity as a footballer.
His career also includes major honours at both club and international level, most notably the FA Cup with Arsenal and the Africa Cup of Nations with Côte d’Ivoire. While estimates of his net worth vary and his private finances are not publicly verified, his long career in elite football has made him one of the better-known Ivorian players of his generation.
FAQs About Nicolas Pepe
1. How old is Nicolas Pepe?
Nicolas Pépé was born on May 29, 1995, in Mantes-la-Jolie, France. As of 2026, he is 31 years old and plays professional football for Villarreal in La Liga.
2. What position does Nicolas Pepe play?
Pépé primarily plays as a forward or right winger. He is left-footed and is particularly known for his speed, dribbling, ability to cut inside, and attacking movement around the penalty area.
3. What is Nicolas Pepe’s net worth?
There is no officially verified public figure for Pépé’s personal net worth. Various websites estimate his wealth at roughly $25 million to $30 million, but these numbers should be treated as estimates rather than confirmed financial records.
4. Did Nicolas Pepe play for Arsenal?
Yes. Pépé joined Arsenal in 2019 in a deal widely reported at £72 million, which made him the club’s record signing at that time. He spent three seasons with Arsenal and won the FA Cup in 2020.
5. What trophies has Nicolas Pepe won?
Pépé has won the FA Cup and FA Community Shield with Arsenal and the Africa Cup of Nations with Côte d’Ivoire. His international title came in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, while his Arsenal honours came during his time in England.
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