Ricardo Pepi’s transfer formalized
FC Dallas confirmed the sale of star striker Ricardo Pepi for a record fee to German club Augsburg on Monday.
The transfer is worth $20 million and with the bonuses, it becomes the most expensive in Major League Soccer history for a player trained at the club. He is thus ahead of the $22 million offered to the Vancouver Whitecaps by Bayern Munich for the purchase of Canadian Alphonso Davies.
According to the ESPN network, FC Dallas will receive 10% of the amount of each possible transfer of Pepi.
“It is a challenge to lose a player like Pepi, who was one of the most talented athletes in the league in 2021, but it gives us the opportunity to reinvest the profits of this transfer for players who can have a immediate impact on the field and which can help us compete at the highest level, » head coach Nico Estevez said in a written statement.
The FC Dallas academy has been recognized as one of the best across the United States for several seasons. Young nuggets like Reggie Cannon and Bryan Reynolds have completed big transfers to Europe lately and the team’s pool of prospects is regularly renewed.
« This is an important transaction for FC Dallas, Ricardo and Major League Soccer, » added technical director Andre Zanotta. He represents what is possible for the FC Dallas Academy and soccer players in the United States.”
Pepi scored 13 goals in 31 games last season. He also made his debut for the national team, being voted American Young Player of the Year by US Soccer.
