Arsenal have secured the signing of Ecuadorian defender Piero Hincapie from Bayer Leverkusen on a season-long loan, the Premier League club confirmed on Monday.
The 23-year-old joined Leverkusen in 2021 and has since made over 100 appearances, playing a pivotal role in their 2024 Bundesliga title win.
According to British media reports, Arsenal have included a £45 million ($60.79 million) option to buy Hincapie permanently next summer.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta welcomed the defender, saying, “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 five shirt and is set to link up with his new teammates after international duty.
