Arsenal have completed the permanent signing of defender Piero Hincapie for a reported fee of around £34.5 million plus add-ons, marking their first acquisition of what is anticipated to be a busy summer transfer period.
The Ecuadorian international spent the previous season on loan at the Emirates Stadium from Bayer Leverkusen, with both clubs having agreed on an option to make the move permanent. It was widely expected that Hincapie would extend his stay in north London beyond the initial loan spell, and that expectation has now become reality.
The transfer will be officially finalised on July 1, aligning with both Arsenal’s and Leverkusen’s plans for it to be recorded in the next financial year. The 24-year-old has signed a long-term five-year contract that will keep him with the Gunners until the summer of 2031.
Hincapie, who played a crucial role in Arsenal’s title-winning campaign, becomes Mikel Arteta’s first signing of the upcoming window. The club is also actively pursuing other targets, including Leicester City’s 16-year-old prospect Jeremy Monga, while maintaining interest in Morgan Rogers and Ayyoub Bouaddi.
The versatile defender initially faced a delayed start to his Arsenal career due to injury but quickly established himself as a key figure once he returned to full fitness. Featuring mainly at left-back, Hincapie made 39 appearances across all competitions and earned high praise from Arteta, who labelled him a “warrior” for his resilience and consistency.
Currently representing Ecuador at the World Cup, Hincapie has played the full 90 minutes in both group stage matches against Ivory Coast and Germany. Ecuador now face a must-win clash against Germany on Thursday night to avoid an unexpected early elimination, having entered the tournament as one of its dark horses.
Following his international duties, Hincapie will be granted a short break before rejoining Arsenal for pre-season preparations. The Gunners are set to begin their summer schedule with a friendly against Girona on August 1 in Spain.
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