At the beginning of January, FC Augsburg signed US striker Ricardo Pepi from FC Dallas for 16.36 million euros and to a great deal of media fanfare. Only half a year and 16 mostly short competitive appearances without a goal involved later, the paths between the 19-year-old and the Fuggerstadt team separate again for the time being. After “Voetbal International” and “Sky” reported on Wednesday about an impending move to FC Groningen, both clubs announced the transfer in the evening. Pepi is loaned out to the Eredivisie for one season. The FCA also receives a loan fee, about which no information was given.
According to “VI”, the ten-time national player in Groningen should replace the Norwegian Jörgen Strand Larsen (22), who is about to be transferred to the Spanish first division club Celta Vigo and should bring the Netherlands 11 million euros including bonuses. The attacker from Texas is under contract with FCA until 2026 with an option for a further year. The new Augsburg coach Enrico Maaßen recently spoke of “big steps” in terms of Pepi’s development and said: “He has trained very hard in the last two weeks, so we experienced a big leap. I am convinced that we will see a few or many really good Bundesliga games from Ricardo Pepi this year.”
In the following defeats against Mainz and Hoffenheim, Maaßen brought the talent as a joker for 22 minutes and against TSG in the starting XI, but replaced Pepi after ten minutes in the second half. “It is important that we are patient with him. But his development is definitely going in the right direction,” said Maassen. “I think he’s made big strides, just in terms of personality. We are on a good way.”
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