Arsenal have completed the signings of goalkeeper Illan Meslier from Leeds United on a free transfer and defender Piero Hincapie from Bayer Leverkusen for a fee of £34.5m, the club confirmed. Meslier, 26, joins after his contract with Leeds expired and is expected to provide depth in the goalkeeping position, currently occupied by David Raya. Hincapie, 24, returns to Arsenal permanently after a successful loan spell during their Premier League title-winning season, signing a five-year contract.
Meslier expressed his delight at joining the reigning Premier League champions, stating Arsenal is the “biggest club in England” and he is eager to contribute to winning more trophies. Hincapie featured 39 times for Arsenal during his loan period and will look to establish himself as a key member of the squad. These additions bolster Arsenal’s squad depth as they prepare to compete in both domestic and Champions League competitions.
Outgoings from the Emirates Stadium include winger Leandro Trossard, who has joined Besiktas for an initial £15.3m, potentially rising to £17m. Trossard arrived from Brighton in 2023 and scored 36 goals in 174 appearances for the club, departing as a Premier League champion. Defender Jakub Kiwior’s loan move to Porto has also been made permanent for a fee of £14.7m, with Arsenal potentially receiving an additional £4.2m in add-ons. Kiwior played 39 times for Porto during their Primeira Liga winning season.
Goalkeeper Karl Hein has also completed a permanent move to Werder Bremen for £2.6m after a season-long loan. Despite limited game time due to injury, Werder Bremen have indicated he will be their first-choice goalkeeper next season. These departures free up space in the squad and generate funds for potential further additions. Arsenal are now considering options to strengthen the left wing position, with Morgan Rogers among the targets, and may also assess the futures of Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus, both entering the final year of their contracts. A move for Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes has also been reported.
