Arsenal have confirmed the permanent signing of Piero Hincapie from Bayer Leverkusen. The Gunners have activated the purchase option included in last summer’s loan agreement, securing the Ecuador defender for the long term. He becomes their first signing of the window.

What happened?

The deal is now done in principle. Hincapie will officially join on July 1, the timing chosen to register the transfer in the new financial year. The fee is reported at around £34.5m plus add-ons, with the 24-year-old signing a five-year contract until 2031.

Why it matters for Arsenal

His loan spell more than justified the move. Hincapie made 39 appearances in all competitions as Arsenal ended their 22-year wait for the league title. He started 20 league games for a defence that conceded just 27 goals, the fewest in the division.

What comes next?

The Emirates faithful quickly took to him. He won the club’s Player of the Month award in both February and April, a period when the title race reached its climax. His lone goal came in a draw at Wolves. As of June 26, 2026, Arsenal sit top of the Premier League with 85 points, 7 points clear of Manchester City, and a recent form of WWWWW. | Stat | Value | | --- | --- | | League standing | 1st in Premier League | | Goals this season | 71 scored, 27 conceded | | Lead at the top | 7 points clear of Manchester City | | Last result | Paris Saint Germain 1-1 Arsenal (2026-05-30) | | Recent form | 3W-2D-0L (DDWWW, most recent first) | The signing kicks off what promises to be a busy summer. Arsenal remain keen on Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers and Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi, and are in talks for Leicester teenager Jeremy Monga. Hincapie, meanwhile, is currently with Ecuador at the World Cup and will be given time off before linking up for pre-season.