USMNT striker Ricardo Pepi has joined Bundesliga club Augsburg in a record signing for the German club, worth $20 million. He is now the most expensive homegrown talent that the MLS have produced, being signed from FC Dallas.
“Moving to Europe after the conclusion of the MLS season was my dream,” Pepi said in a statement Monday. “I believe FC Augsburg and the Bundesliga will prove the perfect setting 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!”
There has been speculation about the involvement of Bayern Munich in the transfer, like the case of Serge Gnabry. You can read all about the issue here.
Who is Ricardo Pepi?
The 18-year-old is a very exciting talent, who scored 13 goals in 31 appearances this past season. Pepi scored on his international debut in September, and also provided two assists to complete a remarkable first game for the USMNT.
Pepi was a target for a number of Bundesliga clubs, with the likes of Bayern Munich and Wolfsburg, he has been recruited as an Augsburg player. He will get ample game time for the team, and will have to operate under pressure as they are currently battling relegation.
