Arsenal have officially announced the signing of Ecuadorian international Piero Hincapie from Bayer Leverkusen on a season-long loan deal, with an option to make the move permanent next summer for £45 million (€52 million).
The 23-year-old defender arrives at the Emirates after a successful spell in Germany, where he made 166 appearances for Leverkusen since joining in 2021. Hincapie played a key role in the club’s historic Bundesliga and German Cup double during the 2023-24 season.
Hincapie will wear the number five shirt and becomes manager Mikel Arteta’s eighth signing of a busy transfer window. The Gunners have already added Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Cristhian Mosquera, and Eberechi Eze as they bolster their squad for another title push.
Piero Hincapié's new Arsenal threads 🇪🇨 pic.twitter.com/nw8s4uJMuB
— B/R Football (@brfootball) September 1, 2025
“Piero has a real physical presence, with his versatility and tactical flexibility giving us strong added defensive options,” said Arteta.
“He is a big character, with a very good combination of both youth and maturity. He will make our squad stronger and more competitive as we continue into this season.”
Hincapie is expected to serve as a direct replacement for Jakub Kiwior, who has joined Porto on a season-long loan. The move reflects Arsenal's focus on defensive balance, as they look to navigate a congested fixture list across domestic and European competitions.
The north London club have also seen further movement in midfield, with Fábio Vieira heading to German side Hamburg on loan, two years after his £34.2 million switch from Porto. Meanwhile, Sambi Lokonga has completed a permanent transfer to the same club for an undisclosed fee.
Arsenal’s recruitment drive shows a clear intent to add depth and tactical flexibility to Arteta’s squad—both of which will be crucial as they aim to build on last season’s Premier League runner-up finish and make a deeper run in the UEFA Champions League.