Arsenal have completed the signing of Ecuadorian defender Piero Hincapie on a season-long loan from Bayer Leverkusen.
The 23-year-old arrives at the Emirates with a wealth of experience, having made over 100 appearances for Leverkusen and playing a vital role in their Bundesliga title triumph during the 2023/24 season.
Hincapie began his career in Ecuador with Independiente del Valle, where he made his senior debut at just 17 and captained his country at under-17 level.
He also lifted the U20 Copa Libertadores in 2020 before moving to Argentina to join Talleres, where his performances earned him a transfer to Leverkusen in 2021.
At international level, Hincapie has represented Ecuador 46 times, featuring at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and Copa America tournaments in 2021 and 2024.
Speaking on the move, Arsenal’s Sporting Director Andrea Berta said: “We are delighted to have completed the loan signing for the season of Piero Hincapie. At only 23, Piero already has significant experience, both in the Bundesliga and at international level. He is an intelligent defender with real strength and versatility.”
“His performances in recent years for both club and country have been of a consistent high quality, and we are confident Piero will continue to grow this season and be an important player for us.”
Manager Mikel Arteta also welcomed the defender, saying: “We are so pleased to welcome Piero Hincapie to the club. Piero has a real physical presence, with his versatility and tactical flexibility giving us strong added defensive options. 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 will wear the number 5 shirt for Arsenal and will link up with his new teammates after returning from international duty with Ecuador. The deal is subject to the completion of regulatory processes.
