FC Augsburg has agreed to sell US striker Ricardo Pepi to PSV Eindhoven for €11 million. This ends one of the biggest misunderstandings in the history of FC Augsburg. Pepi was signed by Augsburg for a club record fee of €16.36 million in January 2023 but was now sold at a loss. The transfer fee has not been disclosed, but it is reported that Augsburg will receive up to €8 million for Pepi plus an additional €2 million in performance-based add-ons. The club has also secured a sell-on clause of either 25% or 20%, as reported by different sources. Pepi’s time at Groningen in the Eredivisie last season saw him score 12 goals and provide three assists in 29 games, a stark contrast to his performance in the Bundesliga where he failed to score a single goal. It is believed that Pepi’s camp never made a true effort to make the Augsburg transfer a success and pushed for a move away from the club after just a few months in Germany. The Bundesliga was also seen as too challenging for Pepi at this stage of his career. Pepi’s statistics in the Eredivisie, with 44 shots overall and 19 on target, were much improved compared to his time in the Bundesliga. The 20-year-old opted to stay in the Netherlands, but now he will have to prove himself at PSV before attempting a move to one of Europe’s top four leagues.
PSV Eindhoven is delighted to have secured Pepi, stating that he possesses the qualities they look for in an attacker and has proven to be a goal scorer in multiple positions. FC Augsburg has stated that the transfer to Eindhoven is a good solution for everyone involved and wishes Pepi all the best for the future. The decision to sell Pepi was made due to the club’s lack of conviction that his numbers in the Eredivisie could translate into success in the Bundesliga. Pepi’s performance in the Eredivisie shows that he was more suited to the league, and he will now need to replicate those numbers at PSV.
Pepi’s transfer highlights the challenges that young players face when making moves to top-flight leagues and the importance of finding the right environment to develop and succeed. It will be interesting to see how Pepi performs at PSV and whether he can continue to impress in the Eredivisie before potentially making a move to one of Europe’s top leagues.
