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Done deal
This article first appeared on Saturday, January, 1 and has since been updated after the transfer was announced.
Ricardo Pepi has joined Bundesliga side FC Augsbrug. First reported by Fabrizio Romano the deal was finally announced on Monday morning. Pepi, who scored 13 goals in 31 MLS games last season completed his medical and signed a new contract that will keep him at the club until 2026 on Sunday night. Transfermarkt understands that die Fuggerstädter paid $18 million, plus bonuses. The transfer makes Pepi the most expensive outgoing MLS homegrown player, breaking a record set by Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies in 2019. Pepi will also become the second most expensive outgoing transfer in MLS history (overview).
Pepi, Reynolds, Richards & Co.: FC Dallas record sales
Thiago Santos | To Grêmio in 2021 | Fee: $1.1m
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Chris Richards | To Bayern Munich in 2019 | Fee: $1.21m
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Juan Carlos Toja | To Steaua Bukarest in 2008 | Fee: $1.65m
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Anton Nedyalkov | To Ludogorets in 2018 | Fee: $2.2m
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Reggie Cannon | To Boavista in 2020 | Fee: 2.75m
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Fabián Castillo | To Trabzonspor in 2017 | Fee: $3m
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Loan fee and transfer fee combined.
Brek Shea | To Stoke City in 2013 | Fee: $3.3m
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Tanner Tessmann | To Venezia FC in 2021 | Fee: $4m
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Carlos Gruezo | To FC Augsburg in 2019 | Fee: $4.4m
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Bryan Reynolds | To AS Roma in 2021 | Fee: $7.43m
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Previously on loan
Ricardo Pepi | To FC Augsburg in 2022 | Fee: $18m
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For Augsburg, it is also a record deal. The Bundesliga club’s previous transfer record was $11.55 million, which the club paid for RB Salzburg defender Martin Hinteregger in the 2016/17 season (overview). Once bonuses are added, the Pepi deal will double the previous record, and it is also significantly more than what Wolfsburg was willing to pay. According to Transfermarkt information, Pepi had everything agreed with Wolfsburg before Augsburg hijacked a potential €10 million ($11m) deal.
“Moving to Europe after the conclusion of the MLS season was my dream,” Ricardo Pepi said in a club statement. “I believe FC Augsburg and the Bundesliga will prove the perfect settings for me to gain match practice at the top level as a youngster. The efforts the FCA club officials put in to sign me were really impressive. As a result, I felt right away that FCA was the right club for me. I can’t wait to meet my new teammates and I want to integrate into the team as quickly as possible. I can hardly wait to get going!”
Pepi to Augsburg: Surprise transfer financed by American investor
It is a surprising transfer. Augsburg on their own do not have the means to complete the deal. But according to the Süddeutsche Zeitung the club the club’s main investor Hofmanns Investoren GmbH, which owns 99.4% of the FC Augsburg GmbH sold 45% of their shares to American investor David S. Blitzer last spring. Blitzer is a private equity investor and is a co-managing partner and minority owner of several sports teams including Premier League side Crystal Palace. Augsburg were hit hard by COVID-19 and the lack of spectators over the last two seasons and could not have made the deal without external investment.
Martínez, Mukhtar, Pepi & Co. – The 25 most valuable MLS players
Santiago Sosa | Atlanta United | Market value: $6.6m
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Cole Bassett | Colorado Rapids | Market value: $6.6m
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Efraín Álvarez | Los Angeles Galaxy | Market value: $6.6m
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Hany Mukhtar | Nashville SC | Market value: $7.15m
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Ryan Gauld | Vancouver Whitecaps | Market value: $7.15m
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José Cifuentes | Los Angeles FC | Market value: $7.15m
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Carles Gil | New England Revolution | Market value: $7.7m
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Adam Buksa | New England Revolution | Market value: $7.7m
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Yeferson Soteldo | Toronto FC | Market value: $7.7m
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Valentín Castellanos | New York City FC | Market value: $7.7m
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Brenner | FC Cincinnati | Market value: $7.7m
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Talles Magno | New York City FC | Market value: $7.7m
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Dániel Sallói | Sporting Kansas City | Market value: $8.25m
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Raúl Ruidíaz | Seattle Sounders | Market value; $8.8m
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Alan Pulido | Sporting Kansas City | Market value: $8.8m
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Alejandro Pozuelo | Toronto FC | Market value: $8.8m
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Lucas Zelarayán | Columbus Crew | Market value: $8.8m
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Marcelino Moreno | Atlanta United | Market value: $8.8m
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Ricardo Pepi | FC Dallas | Market value: $ 8.8m
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Tajon Buchanan | New England Revolution | Market value: $9.35m
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Luiz Araujo | Atlanta United | Market value: $11m
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Emmanuel Reynoso | Minnesota United | Market value: $11m
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Ezequiel Barco | Atlanta United | Market value: $11m
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Daryl Dike | Orlando City | Market value: $11m
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Josef Martínez | Atlanta United | Market value: $13.75m
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