By Wayne Veysey

10th Sep, 2023 | 10:19am

Sources: Arsenal 'high' seven-figure payout revealed after Pepe twist

Arsenal have paid a “high” seven-figure sum to terminate Nicolas Pepe’s contract, sources have told Football Insider.

The 28-year-old winger had fallen out of favour at The Emirates and has now had his contract ended by the North London club.

Pepe spent the 2022-23 season out on loan at French side Nice after Mikel Arteta made it clear that he is not in his long-term plans at Arsenal.

His last appearance for the Gunners came on the final day of the 2021/22 season in a 5-1 win over Everton.

Arsenal paid £72million to sign the Ivory Coast international from Lille in 2019 – a club record fee at the time.

However, they are set to receive no transfer fee in return for their investment with the club choosing to terminate his deal on Saturday (9 September) following extensive talks.

It means a huge payout for the player, although it is believed Pepe will not get the entirety of the final nine-and-a-half months of his contract paid up.

Sources have told Football Insider that Arsenal paid a ‘high’ seven-figure sum to end his contract, which had one year remaining.

Pepe ends his time at Arsenal having scored 27 goals with 21 assists in 112 appearances across all competitions.

He struggled for game time with the Gunners following Bukayo Saka’s breakthrough to the squad, with the England star now a regular starter in Mikel Arteta’s side on the right wing.

He scored eight and assisted once during his loan spell at Nice last season, but the agreement didn’t include an option for the French club to sign Pepe permanently.

Following his exit from Arsenal this weekend, Pepe has signed for Turkish side Trabzonspor.

In other news, Kieran Maguire drops ‘absolutely critical’ Arsenal verdict as new deal agreed