Arsenal sign Piero Hincapié on a permanent deal

By Adegboyega Adeleye

Premier League champions Arsenal have secured the permanent transfer of Ecuadorian defender Piero Hincapié from Bayer Leverkusen, having exercised the option in his loan deal.

The 24‑year‑old centre‑back spent the 2025/26 campaign on loan at Arsenal, contributing significantly as Mikel Arteta’s team captured the Premier League title.

He featured in 39 matches across all competitions for the Gunners, starting 20 league games, while Arsenal finished the season with one of the league’s best defensive records, conceding only 27 goals.

The Ecuadorian international also started for Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League final against Paris Saint‑Germain.

Prior to joining north London, Hincapié appeared 166 times for Bayer Leverkusen, contributing to the club’s first Bundesliga title in the historic 2023/24 season, when they finished the domestic campaign unbeaten.

He started his professional career at Independiente del Valle, then moved to Argentine club Talleres de Córdoba in 2020. After a single season in Argentina, he transferred to Leverkusen, where he became one of the Bundesliga’s most dependable defenders.

Internationally, Hincapié has earned 54 caps for Ecuador and has represented his nation at four major tournaments, including the current 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The transfer will take effect on 1 July, concluding a successful loan spell that aided Arsenal’s return to the top of English football.