Ricardo Pepi has had to bide his time at PSV. Signed by the Dutch club in July 2023, the American striker has largely been a depth option. He has been rotated in and out of the team and brought off the bench in games. His opportunities have been limited, but Pepi is now twisting manager Peter Bosz’s arm to start him.
Pepi has scored in each of his last four starts for PSV in all competitions, and he was on hand to score the winner, albeit from the bench, in the Dutch club’s remarkable Champions League comeback against Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday night.
His hat trick in last Saturday’s 5-0 thumping of FC Groningen made him the joint-top scorer in the Eredivisie for the 2024/25 season, highlighting his efficiency in front of goal. The 21-year-old is averaging a goal every 56 minutes.
And yet it’s still not certain that he is PSV’s first-choice centre forward. Luuk de Jong has started all five of the club’s Champions League matches this season with the 34-year-old also starting nine league games compared to Pepi’s four. Despite the American’s incredible form, Bosz continues to rotate.
“Ricardo [Pepi] did a great job, and it’s great to have two players of such high quality for this position,” said Bosz after Pepi’s impressive hat trick against FC Groningen in the Eredivisie. “But there’s no need to bring Luuk [de Jong] into question every time Pepi scores. Both are crucial for us, and who plays is my decision.”
The two strikers are very different. While de Jong is a quintessential frontman, giving PSV aerial threat and a focal point to play into and hold up the ball, Pepi is a classic penalty box operator. His game revolves around taking up good positions inside the area to find the back of the net, as he has been doing regularly of late.
For club and country, Pepi is in fine form. Indeed, the 21-year-old was similarly productive for the US men’s national team in the most recent international window, scoring in back-to-back CONCACAF Nations League games against Jamaica. His finish in the second leg of the quarter-final was particularly polished, guiding the ball into the far corner after cutting inside.
It was the sort of cutting edge the USMNT has lacked from its centre forwards of late. Folarin Balogun, Josh Sargent and Brandon Vazquez have all been used in the position since the 2022 World Cup with inconsistent results. Most view Balogun as the American striker with the highest ceiling, but Pepi’s goals are reshaping the discussion.
While Pepi’s goalscoring displays against Jamaica might have moved him to the top of the USMNT pecking order, they also highlighted the improvements he’s still to make. As a traditional frontman, Pepi must get better at holding up play with his back to goal. He simply has to be more involved in possession phases.
To make that progression, Pepi might have to leave PSV, particularly if his form still isn’t enough to dislodge de Jong from the lineup. Liverpool and Manchester City have been linked with the American while Atlético Madrid are also believed to be monitoring Pepi’s situation. Some of Europe’s biggest clubs are seemingly interested.
Of course, Pepi must be wise in picking the right club for his continued development should he make the decision to leave PSV. He needs game time to build on his natural talent and he might not get that at Anfield or the Etihad Stadium. There wouldn’t be much point in Pepi swapping one bench at PSV for another one somewhere else.
PSV are currently leading the way at the top of the Eredivisie having won 12 of their 13 games played so far. The Eindhoven-based team are well-placed to retain the title they won last season when de Jong finished as the division’s joint-top scorer with an eye-catching 29 goals in 34 games. Newcastle United fans must be confused by the veteran’s continued output.
This season, however, Pepi is intent on being the one to spearhead PSV’s title challenge. At only 21, the American is still learning his trade and has come a long way from his early struggles at Augsburg following a record $20m transfer from FC Dallas. There is room for him to grow further at his current club, especially if he keeps scoring at his current rate.
Whether it’s at PSV or somewhere else, Pepi is clearly ready to take the next step. His potential has been clear for a long time and that is now being realised on the pitch. The road Pepi is now on could lead to another Eredivisie title, a move to one of Europe’s biggest clubs, and a starting spot for the USA at the 2026 World Cup. It’s all in front of him.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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