Arsenal Football Club, London, England, on June 25, 2026, have completed the permanent signing of Ecuador international defender Piero Hincapie from Bayer Leverkusen after activating a purchase option in his loan agreement, confirming a move that had been widely expected following a strong debut season in English football.
The Arsenal Hincapie permanent signing Leverkusen deal follows the 24-year-old’s impressive loan spell at the Emirates Stadium, where he quickly established himself as a key figure in Mikel Arteta’s title-winning squad and became a regular starter in decisive fixtures across the Premier League campaign.
Hincapie joined Arsenal during the final stages of the previous summer transfer window and adapted swiftly to the demands of English football, ultimately emerging as the preferred option at left-back despite competition from Myles Lewis-Skelly and Riccardo Calafiori.
He featured prominently in high-profile matches, including clashes against Manchester City and Burnley, and was also selected ahead of Calafiori in Arsenal’s UEFA Champions League semi-final encounter with Paris Saint-Germain, underlining his growing importance within the squad.
Arsenal confirmed the permanent transfer in an official club statement, expressing satisfaction with the agreement.
The club said: “We are delighted to have activated the option to make Piero Hincapie’s transfer to us permanent from July 1.”
It added: “Piero spent last season on loan from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen and was an integral part of our Premier League-winning campaign.”
The transfer, reportedly valued at around £35 million, is understood to be part of Arsenal’s long-term squad planning, with Hincapie signing a contract believed to run until 2031.
Interest from other European clubs, including reported links with Real Madrid, did not alter Arsenal’s decision to secure his future at the Emirates Stadium following a season that ended with the club winning their first league title in 22 years.
Hincapie made 39 appearances in all competitions last season as Arsenal also reached the UEFA Champions League final, further strengthening his reputation as one of the Premier League’s most reliable defensive additions.
The defender now becomes Arsenal’s first confirmed signing of the summer window and is expected to return to pre-season preparations after concluding his international duties with Ecuador at the ongoing World Cup tournament.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
