Arsenal have secured the signing of defender Piero Hincapié from Bayer Leverkusen, beating rivals Tottenham Hotspur to his signature.
The Gunners reached an agreement with the Bundesliga champions for a €52 million fee, plus a 10% sell-on clause. Hincapié, who has been pushing for a move this summer, will travel to London to complete a medical before signing a five-year contract.
The Ecuador international, 22, had been on Tottenham’s radar, with Spurs submitting a loan-to-buy proposal earlier in the window. However, Leverkusen rejected that offer and remained firm on their valuation. While Hincapié’s contract ran until 2029, the player made clear his desire to leave, bidding farewell to supporters after last weekend’s 2-1 defeat to Hoffenheim.
Arsenal’s move for Hincapié became possible once Jakub Kiwior was cleared to undergo a medical at Porto ahead of a €27 million transfer. That sale created space in Mikel Arteta’s squad for the versatile defender, who can operate both at centre-back and left-back.
Hincapié has been a consistent performer in the Bundesliga since joining Leverkusen in 2021, and his ability to play across the back line was a key factor in Arsenal’s push to complete the deal. His arrival follows a summer in which Arsenal also saw off Spurs in the pursuit of England midfielder Eberechi Eze, strengthening their squad while edging out their North London rivals in the market once again.
For Tottenham, it marks another missed target after chairman Daniel Levy’s attempts to negotiate on different terms fell short. For Arsenal, it is a timely reinforcement as they prepare for the challenges of both the Premier League and the Champions League this season.
