Arsenal has exercised the option to make Piero Hincapié’s loan move from Bayer Leverkusen permanent, paying roughly £34.5 million for the Ecuadorian center-back. The 24-year-old defender initially arrived on loan on September 1, 2025, and has since logged 25 league appearances for the Gunners during the 2025-26 season.
What Hincapié brings to Arsenal’s backline
Hincapié has chipped in with 1 goal and 2 assists across his 25 league outings. Arsenal reportedly had a purchase option valued at approximately £45 million baked into the original loan agreement. The fact that the club appears to have secured the deal closer to £34.5 million to £35 million suggests either a renegotiated fee or that the initially reported option figure was overstated.
Before arriving in North London, Hincapié was a key figure in Bayer Leverkusen’s historic unbeaten Bundesliga season under Xabi Alonso, accumulating over 100 appearances for the club before his transfer to Arsenal.
Crypto’s expanding presence in global football
