Wondering what Nicolas Pépé is worth? The Ivorian winger built his fortune through a record Arsenal move, stops in Turkey and Spain, and a Nike deal.
Here’s the full breakdown of his net worth, salary, contract, and career.
Nicolas Pépé’s Biography
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Nicolas Pépé |
| Date of Birth | May 29, 1995 |
| Age | 31 |
| Nationality | Ivory Coast (born in Mantes-la-Jolie, France) |
| Height / Weight | 1.83 m (6’0″) / 73 kg |
| Position | Right Winger / Forward |
| Current Club | Villarreal CF (La Liga) |
| Turned Professional | 2012 (Poitiers) |
| Net Worth | Estimated $30 million |
| Salary | Approximately €3.54 million gross per year |
| Relationship Status | Single |
| Outfitter | Nike |
Early Life and Career
Nicolas Pépé was born on May 29, 1995, in Mantes-la-Jolie, a town just outside Paris, to Ivorian parents who had settled in France.
His father worked as a prison guard and his mother as a housekeeper, and Pépé grew up with two siblings, Jonathan and Corinne, in a household where football quickly became his focus.
Interestingly, Pépé didn’t start out as an attacker. As a young boy he played in goal until he was around 14, mainly because his slim build made coaches reluctant to put him further up the pitch.
That changed once he joined Stade Poitevin, where his speed and dribbling ability made it obvious he belonged on the wing rather than between the posts.
He made his senior debut with Poitiers in France’s fifth tier in 2012, a humble starting point for a player who would later command an eight-figure transfer fee. Two years later, Angers came calling, and Pépé moved up to Ligue 1 in 2013.
A loan spell at Orléans in the 2015–16 season gave him valuable first-team minutes and helped him return to Angers as a more polished player.
By the time he left for Lille in 2017, scouts across Europe had taken notice of the raw, explosive winger from the Paris suburbs.
Professional Career
Pépé’s move to Lille in 2017 turned him into one of Ligue 1’s most feared attackers. Across two seasons there, he scored 35 goals in 74 league appearances and earned a place in the UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year for 2018–19, alongside lifting the Algarve Cup with the club in 2018.
That form convinced Arsenal to break their transfer record in August 2019, paying around £72 million (roughly $89 million at the time) to bring him to the Premier League.
It remains one of the biggest fees ever paid for an African player. His time at Arsenal was a mixed bag — he scored 27 goals in 112 appearances across all competitions, including 16 goals and 9 assists in 80 Premier League matches, and he provided the assist for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s winner in the 2020 FA Cup final.
He also picked up a Community Shield medal during his Emirates Stadium years.
After a loan spell at Nice in 2022–23, Arsenal let him leave on a free transfer, and he joined Turkish side Trabzonspor for the 2023–24 season.
In August 2024, Pépé signed with Villarreal as a free agent, initially on a one-year deal. He extended that contract in July 2025, signing through to June 30, 2028.
On the international side, Pépé has represented Ivory Coast since 2016, appearing at the 2017 and 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, and he was part of the Ivorian squad that won the 2023 AFCON on home soil.
He has also been named in Ivory Coast’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Nicolas Pépé’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Nicolas Pépé’s has an estimated net worth of $30 million.
He built this wealth primarily through professional contracts in France, England, Turkey, and Spain, topped up by a long-running boot deal with Nike.
Contract
Pépé joined Villarreal as a free agent in August 2024 on a one-year deal, then signed a contract extension in July 2025 that runs through June 30, 2028.
According to Capology’s salary database, he has roughly €10.6 million in estimated gross salary remaining on that deal, putting his current arrangement at around €3.54 million per season — a typical wage for an experienced squad player at the club.
Salary
Pépé’s earnings peaked during his Arsenal years, when his weekly wage reportedly climbed into six figures in pounds following his then club-record transfer from Lille, as detailed in Transfermarkt’s player profile.
After leaving Arsenal, his pay dropped sharply through his loan to Nice and his move to Trabzonspor, before settling at his current Villarreal level of roughly €3.54 million gross per year for the 2025–26 season.
Career Earnings By Year
| Season | Team | Estimated Gross Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 2017–18 | Lille | ~£0.6 million |
| 2018–19 | Lille | ~£1.5 million |
| 2019–20 | Arsenal | ~£5.2 million |
| 2020–21 | Arsenal | ~£5.2 million |
| 2021–22 | Arsenal | ~£7.2 million |
| 2022–23 | Nice (loan, Arsenal contract) | ~£5.1 million |
| 2023–24 | Trabzonspor | ~£1.8 million |
| 2025–26 | Villarreal | ~€3.5 million |
Endorsements
Pépé has been a Nike athlete throughout his time at Lille, Arsenal, Trabzonspor, and now Villarreal, as confirmed on his Transfermarkt outfitter listing.
During his Arsenal years, he was also part of promotional activity tied to the club’s main shirt sponsor, Emirates.
Beyond his boot deal, there is no verified record of major separate brand ambassadorships, business ventures, or ownership stakes attached to Pépé at this time.
Career Statistics
| Club / Competition | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lille (Ligue 1, 2017–2019) | 74 | 35 | — |
| Arsenal (Premier League, 2019–2023) | 80 | 16 | 9 |
| Arsenal (All competitions, 2019–2023) | 112 | 27 | — |
| Villarreal (La Liga, 2025–26 season) | 36 | 8 | 8 |
FAQs
What is Nicolas Pépé’s net worth?
Nicolas Pépé’s net worth is estimated at around $30 million. He earned this mainly through his contracts with Lille, Arsenal, Trabzonspor, and Villarreal, plus his long-running Nike sponsorship deal.
How much does Nicolas Pépé earn at Villarreal?
According to Capology, Pépé earns an estimated €3.54 million gross per year at Villarreal for the 2025–26 season, under a contract he extended in July 2025 that runs until June 30, 2028.
Why did Arsenal sign Nicolas Pépé for a record fee?
Arsenal paid around £72 million for Pépé in August 2019 after he scored 35 goals in two seasons for Lille. He had just been named to the Ligue 1 Team of the Year, making him one of Europe’s most wanted wingers.
Is Nicolas Pépé playing at the 2026 World Cup?
Yes. Pépé has been named in Ivory Coast’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He has represented the Elephants since 2016 and was part of their AFCON-winning squad in 2023.
Is Nicolas Pépé married or in a relationship?
He previously had a long-term relationship with Fanny B, the mother of his two children, and later dated Teanna Trump before confirming their split in early 2026.
