Report: Arsenal ready to pay £45m to complete summer signing | OneFootball

Arsenal Ready to Seal £45m Piero Hincapie Deal After Impressive Loan

Arsenal are poised to turn Piero Hincapie’s loan move into a permanent £45m transfer, with TeamTalk reporting that Mikel Arteta has been seriously impressed by the Ecuador international’s impact at Emirates Stadium.

Photo IMAGO

The 24 year old arrived from Bayer Leverkusen on 1 September in a deal that, at the time, felt opportunistic and calculated in equal measure. A €6m loan fee secured his services for the season, with a €52m option to buy fixed for the summer. In a market where flexibility often proves decisive, this structure now looks astute.

Officially, Arsenal maintain that no final decision has been made. Privately, there is little doubt about the direction of travel.

A well placed source told TeamTalk: “Piero has settled so well into the squad and the club as a whole. The staff are very happy with him, and he has just been getting better and better.”

Those words reflect a broader sentiment within the club. After a groin injury delayed his first start until October, Hincapie has grown in authority and assurance. Fifteen starts have followed, and with them a sense that Arsenal have quietly secured one of the more versatile defenders in European football.

Versatility Key to Arteta’s Plans

Hincapie’s appeal lies not only in his defensive instincts but in his adaptability. Comfortable at centre back and capable at left back, he offers Arteta the tactical elasticity that has underpinned Arsenal’s recent evolution.

His selection at left back for the derby against Tottenham, ahead of Ricardo Calafiori and Myles Lewis Skelly, was instructive. It spoke of trust. In high pressure fixtures, managers rarely gamble. Arteta did not hesitate.

Photo IMAGO

Standing 6ft tall and aggressive in the duel, Hincapie blends physicality with composure in possession. Arsenal’s build up play demands defenders who can step into midfield, shift angles and resist the press. In that context, his Bundesliga grounding has served him well.

The £45m fee now appears less a risk and more a reflection of market reality. For a 24 year old entering his prime, with Champions League and title winning pedigree, the numbers are consistent with the current landscape.

Long Term Vision Taking Shape

A five year contract was agreed as part of the original loan terms, signalling that this was never intended as a short term fix. Bayer Leverkusen will retain a 10 percent sell on clause, an arrangement that protects their long term interests while enabling Arsenal to plan with clarity.

Arteta has not disguised his admiration. Earlier this season he said: “He’s a warrior. He’s going to bring such intensity, physicality, and emotion to the team as well. He’s quality on the ball – he’s a player who is super keen.

Photo IMAGO

“He can play inside, he can play in wide positions, he’s done it, as you said, in different ways, and now we need to get him up to speed because the moment that physically he’s at his best, he’s going to raise the level.”

The language was revealing. Warrior, intensity, emotion. These are attributes that resonate in a dressing room pursuing major honours.

If Arsenal formalise the deal early in the window, it will send a message of continuity and conviction. Rather than chasing headlines, they are rewarding performance and securing depth in a position that has become central to their ambitions.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

This feels like smart, proactive business. Too often in the past Arsenal hesitated, allowed loan deals to drift, or overpaid in panic. This situation is different.

Hincapie has shown he can handle the pace and intensity of the Premier League. His display in the north London derby, trusted in a high stakes fixture, demonstrated character as much as quality. Fans value that resilience.

At £45m, some will raise eyebrows, but context matters. Elite defenders in their mid twenties with versatility and title experience rarely come cheap. The fact that Arteta sees him as a “warrior” suggests he fits the culture being built.

Supporters will also appreciate the clarity. With a five year deal ready and the option defined, there is no saga. It is decisive and aligned with a manager who knows precisely what he wants.