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Here is everything you need to know about Ivory Coast forward Nicolas Pepe, including his relationship with his girlfriend, Teanna Trump.
Pepe is most famous for his record move to Arsenal after having amazing seasons at Ligue 1 side Lille.
Although things did not go as Pepe would have loved with the Gunners, his time at the club still produced great moments.
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He was also a member of the Ivory Coast team that delivered the country’s second Africa Cup of Nations title, etching his name in the country’s history.
In recent times, he has hit the news for his love life, and Pulse Sports has done some digging to bring you everything you should know about the Ivorian, including his romantic life.
Nicolas Pepe Background
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Born in Mantes-la-Jolie, France, to Ivorian parents, Pepe spent his childhood in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, where he grew up with his siblings Corinne and Jonathan Pepe.
Pepe did not start his football education as an outfield player, as he was a goalkeeper for local side Solitaire Paris Est, a trade he practiced until 14 years old.
His father, Celestin, who was a prison guard, eventually got transferred to Poitiers, a city on the river Clain in west-central France. Pepe had to follow his father, and this was the turning point in his football career, as he was converted to an outfield player and eventually began his senior career with Poitiers FC in the Championnat de France Amateur 2 (fifth tier) in 2012–13.
It was not long before his talent shone, with scouts from Angers discovering him, marking a turning point in his career.
How old is Nicolas Pépé? (Nicolas Pépé age)
Pepe was born on May 29, 1995, in Mantes-la-Jolie, France, making him 29 years old as of November 2024.
Nicolas Pépé Club Career
After becoming an outfield player at Poitiers FC in France’s fifth tier in 2012–13, Pepe was discovered by Angers, who were in Ligue 2, in 2013 and brought to the club, but he spent his first season with the reserves in the CFA 2.
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He would go on to make his senior debut in the second round of the Coupe de la Ligue against Arles-Avignon in August 2014, and a couple of months later, he made his Ligue 2 debut in November 2014, starting against Ajaccio.
In 2015-16, Pepe went on loan to Orléans in the Championnat National, and he contributed to the club’s promotion from the third tier as runners-up.
On his return to Angers, they were already playing in Ligue 1 and made the 2017 Coupe de France Final, a game Pepe started as his side lost to Paris Saint-Germain at the Stade de France.
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His performances drew attention to him, and in June 2017, Pepe signed a five-year deal with Lille for €10 million. The move was facilitated by Lille’s head coach Marcelo Bielsa, who scouted the player by watching footage of every Ligue 1 game that the forward played for Angers before going to watch him in person.
Pepe was converted to become a striker on arrival at Lille, but after Bielsa’s sacking, he finished the season as a winger under the new head coach Christophe Galtier.
The forward shone for Lille, scoring 13 goals to help his side avoid relegation in 2017-18, but the following season was when he really blew up.
Pepe finished the 2018-19 Ligue 1 season with 22 goals, only behind PSG's Kylian Mbappe, and he provided 11 assists, all of which helped him make the UNFP Team of the Year, win the Lille Best Player of the season, and win the Dogue de la Saison award.
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Club president Gerard Lopez confirmed that Pepe had attracted interest from several clubs around Europe, including Barcelona, but in August 2019, he opted to join Premier League club Arsenal in a then club-record fee of €79 million (£72 million).
Pepe was a subject of scrutiny in the media, with his price tag weighing heavily on him. The Ivorian struggled to adapt to life at Arsenal, and this was not helped with the fact that the club was in a transition period, which eventually led to Unai Emery being sacked as head coach, with Mikel Arteta replacing him.
The forward struggled to nail down a regular starting shirt under Arteta, piling more pressure on him. But he was instrumental in the club’s FA Cup triumph in 2019-20, scoring against Sheffield United in the quarterfinals, providing an assist in the semifinal against Manchester City, and another assist in the final against Chelsea.
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After three seasons with the Gunners, Pepe discovered that he was not in Arteta’s plan, and both parties agreed on a loan deal to Ligue 1 side Nice in the 2022–23 season without an option to buy.
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However, he struggled to convince the club, and he was allowed to join La Liga club Villarreal on a free transfer in August 2024.
Nicolas Pépé International Career
Born in France to Ivorian parents, Pepe made his international debut with the Ivory Coast national team in November 2016. He first appeared as an unused substitute against Morocco in a 2018 World Cup qualifier.
Three days later, Pepe earned his first cap in a friendly against France, his birth nation. He was included in Ivory Coast's squad for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations but did not play.
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In March 2018, he scored his first international goal in a 2-2 draw against Togo, followed by another goal in a 2-1 win over Moldova.
Selected for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, Pepe was absent from the quarter-final penalty shootout loss to Algeria due to a loss of form.
Nicolas Pépé Achievements
Arsenal
FA Cup: 2019-20
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Ivory Coast
Africa Cup of Nations: 2023
Individual
UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year: 2018-19
UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Month: September 2018, January 2019
Prix Marc-Vivien Foé: 2019
Lille Player of the Season: 2018-19
UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season: 2020-21
Nicolas Pépé Salary
According to Capology, Pepe earns €60,000 gross per week at Spanish side Villarreal.
The forward earns €3,120,000 gross per year and has a contract with Villarreal until June 30, 2026.
Nicolas Pépé Net Worth
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According to various sources, Pepe's net worth is around $30 million, and he primarily earns his income from football.
Nicolas Pépé Girlfriend
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Pepe was formerly married to Fanny B, but the couple divorced in 2023. However, they have two children together and are now co-parenting.
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Rumours about their relationship first emerged after Pepe moved to Villarreal, with both parties seemingly eager to keep things under wraps.
The adult film star and model was spotted in the VIP section of Villarreal’s first league match of the 2024-25 season against Atletico Madrid in August.
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The Ivorian footballer would later confirm their relationship after posting a screenshot of a wallpaper on his phone featuring a photo of Teanna with a banner bearing his name.
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