Arsenal have announced the arrival of Lille star Nicolas Pepe in club-record deal worth €80m (£72m).
The Ivory Coast international was widely expected to join Napoli but the Serie A outfit could not agree personal terms.
Arsenal have successfully managed to hi-jack a deal for Pepe to make the 24-year-old the most expensive player in the club’s history.
The Gunners are working off limited resources this summer and Lille have agreed to receive the €80m fee in instalments.
Pepe’s move to Arsenal signals the end of the Gunners’ interest in Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha.
Unai Emery’s side had several bids rejected for Pepe’s international team-mate, with Palace demanding a larger fee up front.
Zaha was desperate to join Arsenal this summer but his future is now in limbo, with Everton pursuing his signature.
Pepe struggled to impact this summer’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign but was one of Ligue 1’s best performers last season.
In fact, only Kylian Mbappe (40) played a direct hand in more goals than Pepe (33) in Ligue 1 last term.
