Arsenal FINALLY complete £72m signing of Nicolas Pepe as he signs five-year deal at the Emirates… but Gunners will only play £20m upfront – and they still want TWO more players!

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Nicolas Pepe has become Arsenal's record signing after joining from Lille for £72million on a five-year contract.

Arsenal will pay an initial £20m with the remaining £52m spread over the next five years due to their transfer constraints. 

The 24-year-old had emerged as the Gunners' primary target after hitting 23 goals in 41 games for the Ligue 1 side last season - his 22 league goals leaving him behind only Kylian Mbappe in the scoring charts.

Nicolas Pepe has become Arsenal's club-record signing after sealing £72m move from Lille

Pepe has put pen to paper on a sensational five-year contract with the north London outfit 

The 24-year-old winger scored 23 goals in 41 games for the Ligue 1 outfit last season

Pepe drapes the Ivory Coast flag around his shoulders as he officially completes his move

The forward, who will wear the No 19 shirt, said: 'Being here is very emotional because it has not been easy for me. 

'I have come a long way and struggled a lot and so signing for this great club is a big reward. It was important to make the right decision and I am convinced that Arsenal is the right choice.' 

Arsenal boss Unai Emery added: 'Nicolas is a highly-rated and talented winger who was wanted by many of the top teams in Europe.

Pepe will form a fearsome attack with Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

The powerful forward poses for a photo alongside Arsenal technical director Edu 

The winger poses outside the club's state-of-the-art London Colney training complex

Pepe takes part in conditioning tests as he gets straight down to business with Arsenal

The former Lille man will be desperate to take the Premier League by storm next season

The Ivorian adapts to his new surroundings at London Colney on Thursday afternoon

'Signing a top-class winger has been one of our key objectives in this transfer window and I'm delighted he's joining. He will add pace, power and creativity, with the aim of bringing more goals to our team.'

The big-money move smashes the club's record, set when they bought Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund for £56m in January 2018. 

Arsenal were originally concerned they might not be able to land Pepe amid the fierce competition for his signature this summer and their inability to offer the lure of Champions League football to prospective signings.

As well as undergoing conditioning tests, Pepe took to the field on Thursday in Hertfordshire

The £72m man also showed off his touch in the sunny conditions at Arsenal's training base

Pepe could be included in Arsenal's travelling squad for the pre-season friendly with Barcelona

Pepe will get his first taste of Premier League action when Arsenal face Newcastle on August 11

But once they received sufficient encouragement that Pepe wanted to move to the Emirates and Lille were open to a structured deal that worked with Arsenal's financial situation they put the wheels in motion to bring him to the Emirates.

Emery will now focus on trying to strengthen his defence with what is left of his budget.

Arsenal are closing in on a £25m deal for Celtic's Kieran Tierney, having restructured their offer after seeing two bids rejected and also want a senior centre-back.

Their backline will also be further reinforced by the returns from injury of Rob Holding and Hector Bellerin who have both been sidelined with serious knee injuries.

The left-footed attacker joined Lille from Angers in 2017 for a fee of around £8million

Pepe chose to represent Ivory Coast over his native France and has four goals from 15 caps

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