PSV and USMNT star Ricardo Pepi is getting noticed on the big stage.
The striker has been impressive so far this season for both club and country, scoring 14 goals in all competitions for Dutch side PSV and scoring in both legs of the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Jamaica. He most recently scored two goals in the KNVB Cup against Koninklijke HFC, and his hot goalscoring streak is getting him noticed by some of the world’s biggest clubs, namely in the English Premier League.
According to sources at London-based soccer publication GOAL.com, an “unnamed Premier League club” has made an offer for the American in the region of 20 million Euros ($20.7m). The Dutch club may be keen to do business as the American doesn’t start every game, with veteran Dutch striker Luuk de Jong being preferred as the starter. Despite this, Pepi is the club’s top goal scorer so far this season.
The 21-year-old first came through in the MLS with FC Dallas, signing for them in 2019 and having a breakthrough season in 2021, where he scored 13 goals and earned an All-Star selection at age 18. These performances attracted the attention of German Bundesliga club FC Augsburg where he transferred in January 2022 for a record fee. It quickly proved to be the wrong move for him, as he made 15 appearances without scoring and struggled to find his feet.
He moved to Dutch club FC Groningen on a season-long loan in 2022 to find more consistent playing time. He scored 12 goals in 29 league matches and was a standout player for FC Groningen that season. In June 2023, he transferred to PSV Eindhoven and continued his fine form in the Netherlands.
Pepi has also had a big impact on the international stage with the USMNT, scoring 13 goals in 33 caps. He helped the U.S. win the CONCACAF Nations League twice by scoring a brace in the semifinals vs Mexico in 2023.
