‘One of the reasons!’ - How PSV pulled off Ricardo Pepi transfer with golden throne & stepping stone promise to USMNT star

The United States international completed a €10 million (£9m/$11m) transfer to the Eredivisie giants during the summer window of 2023 – having previously impressed in the Netherlands while on loan at Groningen. Pepi has not always been a guaranteed starter for PSV, but he was aware of that when joining. He shares the club’s ambition, both as a collective and on a personal level, while his arrival at Philips Stadion was announced in some style.

Pepi has told the Men in Blazers podcast of opting for a switch to Eindhoven: “I remember talking to Earnie [Stewart]. I talked to him and he spoke to my agent, he said ‘we’re interested in you and the qualities you have, we see you as a good striker and part of our future - we want to develop you and hopefully make that next step for you to a bigger club, but we feel we’re a good club for you and you play the way we want to play’.”

The 20-year-old striker added on the role a golden presentation throne played in his decision to sign: “That was one of the reasons!”

Pepi has been joined at PSV by international colleagues Malik Tillman and Sergino Dest, with there a noticeable American flavour to Peter Bosz’s squad. Pepi added: “When I first came to the club, I didn’t know anything about it. The first couple of weeks before the season started, I started hearing a lot of rumours about Malik and eventually Sergino. I was like OK! I reached out to the guys and was like ‘yo, what’s going to happen?’ They eventually made it to the team and I feel like it’s great. It’s great to have people from the U.S. that I play with in the national team and now with the club. I feel like it helps us on the field and off the field as well.”

Pepi is enjoying his time with PSV, hitting six goals through 22 appearances – including his first efforts in the Champions League. He is tied to a contract through to 2028 and will be hoping to have shown by then that he is ready for another step up the sporting ladder.