Arsenal have confirmed the permanent signing of defender Piero Hincapie from Bayer Leverkusen for a fee of £34.5 million. The 24-year-old joins the Gunners after a successful loan spell at the Emirates Stadium, with the club exercising their option to buy.
According to Sky Sports News, Hincapie has signed a five-year contract with the Premier League club. Manager Mikel Arteta had reportedly informed the Arsenal hierarchy of his desire to retain the Ecuadorian international as far back as February, as revealed by TEAMtalk transfer insider Graeme Bailey.
Hincapie initially took time to adapt to life in North London, but he ultimately became a valuable asset for Arteta’s side. He demonstrated versatility by featuring in both centre-back and left-back positions, making a total of 41 appearances across all competitions and contributing to Arsenal’s Premier League title win. Arteta described Hincapie as a “warrior” who brings “intensity, physicality, and emotion” to the team.
The completion of Hincapie’s transfer represents the first official business of the summer for Arsenal, though the club is expected to pursue further additions. Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers is reportedly a top target, with Villa anticipating a fee exceeding the £100 million received for Jack Grealish in 2021. Arsenal are also linked with Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi of Lille, potentially facing competition from Real Madrid and Liverpool, and Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez, though Alvarez is also wanted by Barcelona. The club appears prepared to invest significantly in strengthening both their attack and midfield options following the successful securing of Hincapie’s services.
