Barcelona have enquired about the availability of Arsenal defender Piero Hincapie, according to reports from ESPN. The 24-year-old Ecuadorian currently plays for Arsenal on loan from Bayer Leverkusen, with a €52m option to buy. The Spanish club are assessing his situation as Arsenal have yet to confirm whether they will trigger that option.
Barcelona’s interest comes after a previously stalled move for Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni earlier in the transfer window, a deal which collapsed due to doubts from manager Hansi Flick. The club has already invested significantly, spending €80m on Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United, and are pursuing Bernardo Silva and Julian Alvarez. Gerard Martin is currently viewed as a potential long-term solution at left-sided central defence.
Hincapie joined Arsenal on loan last season and has made 38 appearances across all competitions, scoring one goal and providing two assists. He has featured both at centre-back and left-back, competing for playing time with Myles Lewis-Skelly, Riccardo Calafiori, William Saliba, and Gabriel Magalhaes. He started the first leg of Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid.
The defender has 51 international caps for Ecuador and has previously won league titles in both Germany and England. While his most successful period at Bayer Leverkusen came within a back three system, he has adapted to a more versatile role at Arsenal. His ability to play multiple positions could be attractive to Barcelona, who have experienced uncertainty in both central defence and at left-back this season. Barcelona previously expressed interest in Hincapie in 2025.
Should Arsenal decide not to make Hincapie’s move permanent, Barcelona’s enquiry could lead to a swift transfer. The move would provide Barcelona with a versatile defensive option as they continue to reshape their squad for the upcoming season. Securing Hincapie would likely bolster their defensive depth and offer tactical flexibility to Hansi Flick.
