Nicolas Pepe has built a fascinating football career across France, England, Turkey, Spain, and the international stage with Côte d’Ivoire. Born on May 29, 1995, in Mantes-la-Jolie, France, the left-footed attacker developed from a young French prospect into one of Africa’s recognizable attacking players. His career includes important spells with Angers, Lille, Arsenal, Nice, Trabzonspor, and Villarreal. Known for his pace, dribbling, powerful left foot, and ability to attack defenders one-on-one, Pepe has repeatedly found opportunities to reinvent himself. Villarreal currently lists him as a forward wearing No. 19.
The Nicolas Pepe biography also includes several major milestones. His breakthrough at Lille earned him a major move to Arsenal after an outstanding 2018–19 campaign. Later, he rebuilt his career through spells in France and Turkey before joining Villarreal as a free agent in 2024. His first Villarreal season produced three goals and six assists across 28 appearances, helping the club secure Champions League qualification. Villarreal then extended his contract through June 2028 in July 2025. In 2026, Pepe also represented Côte d’Ivoire at the FIFA World Cup, adding another significant chapter to his international career.
Quick Bio Nicolas Pepe
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Nicolas Pepe |
| Date of Birth | May 29, 1995 |
| Birthplace | Mantes-la-Jolie, France |
| Age | 31 years old |
| Nationality | French-born Ivorian international |
| Profession | Professional Footballer |
| Position | Forward / Winger |
| Preferred Foot | Left |
| Current Club | Villarreal CF |
| Shirt Number | 19 |
| Former Clubs | Angers, Orléans, Lille, Arsenal, Nice, Trabzonspor |
| International Team | Côte d’Ivoire |
| Villarreal Contract | Until June 2028 |
| Major International Honor | Africa Cup of Nations 2024 |
| Major Club Honors | FA Cup 2020, FA Community Shield 2021 |
Nicolas Pepe’s Early Life and Football Beginnings
Nicolas Pepe was born in Mantes-la-Jolie, a commune in the Yvelines department of France. Although he was born in France, his football identity became closely connected with Côte d’Ivoire through international football. His early development took place within the French football system, where he began working toward a professional career. Villarreal’s official biography records Stade Poitevin as the starting point of his professional journey before his move to Angers in 2013. That early period gave Pepe an important foundation as he learned to operate in competitive senior football.
After joining Angers, Pepe spent time on loan at US Orléans, gaining further experience before returning to Angers. His development eventually attracted Lille, where his career accelerated significantly. The move to Lille proved particularly important because it placed him in a stronger competitive environment and gave him the opportunity to demonstrate his attacking ability on a larger stage. His pace, close control, and direct approach made him increasingly valuable. Those qualities would eventually turn him into one of the most sought-after attacking players in French football.
The Lille Breakthrough
Lille became the club where Nicolas Pepe truly established himself as a major attacking talent. After arriving from Angers, he developed into a dangerous winger capable of creating chances and scoring goals. His performances showed a combination of acceleration, technical skill, and confidence in one-on-one situations. Rather than relying on one particular attribute, Pepe could use his pace to get behind defenders or cut inside onto his stronger left foot. That flexibility made him a difficult opponent for defenders and helped raise his profile across European football.
The 2018–19 season became the defining campaign of Pepe’s Lille career. He emerged as one of Ligue 1’s most productive attacking players and attracted attention from major European clubs. His performances helped transform him from an exciting French league winger into a high-profile international player. Lille benefited from his goals and creativity, while Pepe gained the platform he needed to pursue a move to one of Europe’s biggest leagues. His Lille period remains central to understanding why Arsenal later invested heavily in him.
Nicolas Pepe’s Move to Arsenal
Arsenal completed the signing of Nicolas Pepe in 2019 after his impressive Lille campaign. The move represented a major step in his career and brought him into the Premier League, one of the most watched and competitive football leagues in the world. Arsenal viewed him as an attacking player capable of adding goals, creativity, and individual quality to the squad. His arrival generated considerable attention because of his reputation in France and the financial scale of the transfer.
Pepe spent three seasons with Arsenal and experienced several important moments during his time in North London. He won the FA Cup with the club in 2020 and later added the FA Community Shield in 2021. Those honors gave him major domestic trophies despite the challenges of adapting to English football. Arsenal’s official historical records and Villarreal’s biography both recognize those achievements as part of his career. His time in England ultimately became a learning period that shaped the next phase of his professional journey.
Life After Arsenal
After three seasons with Arsenal, Pepe moved to OGC Nice on loan for the 2022–23 campaign. The temporary move allowed him to return to French football and seek consistent opportunities in a familiar environment. Nice offered a different setting from Arsenal, while Pepe could again demonstrate the qualities that had made him so influential at Lille. His time in France represented an opportunity to rebuild momentum and continue competing at a high level.
The following season took him to Turkey, where he joined Trabzonspor as a free agent. Villarreal records that Pepe signed a one-year contract with the Turkish club before later moving to Spain. The sequence of moves reflected a changing stage of his career. Instead of remaining defined by his Arsenal transfer, Pepe gradually began building a new professional identity based on experience, adaptability, and his ability to contribute in different tactical environments.
Nicolas Pepe Joins Villarreal
Nicolas Pepe joined Villarreal in August 2024 as a free agent. The Spanish club described him as a left-footed attacker who usually operates on the right side but can play in different attacking positions. Villarreal highlighted his speed, agility, one-on-one ability, and powerful shooting as important characteristics. At the time of his arrival, the club announced an agreement that initially ran through June 2026.
His first season at Villarreal provided an important platform for his career revival. He made 28 appearances, played 1,496 minutes, scored three goals, and supplied six assists. Villarreal specifically highlighted his contribution during the final stage of the season as the club secured qualification for the UEFA Champions League. His performances convinced the club to extend the relationship, and Villarreal announced a new contract in July 2025 that keeps Pepe at the club through June 2028.
Nicolas Pepe’s Playing Style
Pepe is primarily recognized as a left-footed attacking player who often operates from the right side. This positioning allows him to receive the ball wide before moving inside and looking for a shot or final pass. His ability to attack defenders directly has remained one of the defining elements of his game. Villarreal describes speed, dribbling, one-on-one skill, and decisiveness around the opposition penalty area among his main strengths.
His left foot is another important part of his attacking profile. From the right flank, Pepe can create an angle toward the center of the pitch and use his stronger foot to shoot or deliver passes. He can also operate elsewhere across the attacking line when tactical circumstances require it. That versatility has helped him remain useful across different clubs and managers. His career demonstrates how an attacker can adapt to different football cultures while retaining a recognizable individual style.
Nicolas Pepe and Côte d’Ivoire
Although born in France, Pepe represents Côte d’Ivoire at international level. He made his senior debut for the Elephants in 2016 and became part of a generation of Ivorian players competing on major international stages. Villarreal stated in 2025 that he had reached 47 international appearances, with 11 goals and four assists at that point. International statistics can change quickly, so current figures should be checked against competition-specific records.
One of the biggest achievements of Pepe’s international career came with Côte d’Ivoire’s Africa Cup of Nations triumph. Villarreal lists the Africa Cup of Nations among his honors, with the tournament recorded as 2024. Côte d’Ivoire’s title run gave Pepe another major international achievement after his club success in England. His international career has also continued into the 2026 World Cup era, showing that he remains part of the national team picture well into his thirties.
Nicolas Pepe at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Côte d’Ivoire qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after topping its qualifying group. FIFA reported that the Elephants secured their place at the tournament with a 3–0 victory over Kenya in October 2025. It marked Côte d’Ivoire’s return to the World Cup after missing the previous editions. Pepe was subsequently included among Villarreal’s players selected for the 2026 tournament.
Pepe made an especially notable contribution during the group stage. FIFA recorded him scoring twice in Côte d’Ivoire’s 2–0 victory over Curaçao on June 25, 2026. The result secured Côte d’Ivoire’s passage to the knockout phase, while Pepe received the Player of the Match recognition for his performance. FIFA’s tournament statistics also recorded him with two appearances and 255 minutes during the competition data shown on its player statistics page.
Nicolas Pepe’s Current Villarreal Chapter
By the 2026–27 season, Pepe had entered another important stage of his Villarreal career. The club’s current player profile lists him as a 31-year-old forward and shows five appearances, 367 minutes, two goals, and no assists in the listed competitions. In the LaLiga data displayed by Villarreal, he has four appearances and 336 minutes, with two goals. These numbers reflect a current-season snapshot and can change as the campaign continues.
His contract situation also provides clear evidence of Villarreal’s long-term plans for him. The club extended his agreement through June 2028 in July 2025, adding two seasons to the previous arrangement. That decision followed a first season in which Pepe contributed three goals and six assists across 28 appearances. His continued presence gives Villarreal an experienced international attacker who can operate from the wing or other attacking positions.
Nicolas Pepe’s Major Career Honors
Pepe’s trophy cabinet includes achievements from both club and international football. With Arsenal, he won the FA Cup in 2020 and the FA Community Shield in 2021. Those trophies remain notable parts of his Premier League career, particularly because they came during his three-year spell with the London club. His move to Villarreal later added another professional chapter rather than ending his pursuit of major opportunities in European football.
His biggest international honor came with Côte d’Ivoire’s Africa Cup of Nations success. The achievement placed another major title alongside his English domestic trophies. Pepe has also competed at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where his two-goal performance against Curaçao became one of the standout moments of his international career. Taken together, these experiences show a player whose career has crossed several football cultures while maintaining a connection to the Ivorian national team.
Nicolas Pepe’s Career Legacy So Far
The Nicolas Pepe biography is ultimately a story of development, opportunity, adaptation, and career reinvention. His rise at Lille established him as a major European prospect, while his Arsenal move placed him under the spotlight of the Premier League. Later spells at Nice and Trabzonspor gave him different experiences before Villarreal provided a new platform in Spain. Each stage added another layer to his professional story and helped him remain active at the highest levels of international and European football.
Pepe’s career also illustrates the changing nature of modern attacking football. His ability to play from the right, attack defenders, cut inside, and contribute goals allows him to fit several tactical approaches. Villarreal’s decision to extend his contract through 2028 underlines the club’s continued commitment to his experience and qualities. At 31, Pepe remains an active international footballer and an important part of Villarreal’s squad, giving him further opportunities to add to his career record.
Conclusion
Nicolas Pepe has traveled a long road from his early days in French football to his current role with Villarreal. His breakthrough at Lille changed the trajectory of his career and eventually led to Arsenal. Although his Premier League period brought challenges alongside trophies, he continued his career through Nice and Trabzonspor before finding a new opportunity in Spain. Villarreal became an important destination in that process, and his first season helped convince the club to extend his contract through 2028.
Today, Nicolas Pepe remains an experienced forward with a significant international résumé. He has won domestic trophies with Arsenal, celebrated an Africa Cup of Nations title with Côte d’Ivoire, and represented his country at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. His two goals against Curaçao demonstrated his ability to make an international impact even at this stage of his career. With several seasons remaining on his Villarreal contract, Pepe’s story is still developing, and his next chapters will add to an already wide-ranging football journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Nicolas Pepe?
Nicolas Pepe is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Villarreal and represents Côte d’Ivoire internationally. He was born in Mantes-la-Jolie, France, on May 29, 1995.
How old is Nicolas Pepe?
Nicolas Pepe is 31 years old in 2026. His date of birth is May 29, 1995.
What position does Nicolas Pepe play?
Pepe primarily plays as a forward or winger. Villarreal notes that he usually operates on the right side of the attack but can play in other attacking positions.
Which club does Nicolas Pepe play for?
Nicolas Pepe currently plays for Villarreal CF in Spain. Villarreal extended his contract through June 2028.
Did Nicolas Pepe play for Arsenal?
Yes. Pepe played for Arsenal for three seasons after joining the Premier League club from Lille in 2019.
What trophies has Nicolas Pepe won?
His major honors include the FA Cup and FA Community Shield with Arsenal and the Africa Cup of Nations with Côte d’Ivoire.
Did Nicolas Pepe play at the 2026 World Cup?
Yes. Pepe represented Côte d’Ivoire at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and scored twice against Curaçao during the group stage.
When did Nicolas Pepe join Villarreal?
Pepe joined Villarreal as a free agent in August 2024. The club later extended his contract through June 2028.
Where was Nicolas Pepe born?
Nicolas Pepe was born in Mantes-la-Jolie, France, on May 29, 1995.
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