Arsenal make Hincapie loan move permanent in £35m deal | OneFootball

Arsenal have confirmed the permanent signing of Piero Hincapie from Bayer Leverkusen.

The Gunners have activated the purchase option included in last summer’s loan agreement, securing the Ecuador defender for the long term. He becomes their first signing of the window.

The deal is now done in principle. Hincapie will officially join on July 1, the timing chosen to register the transfer in the new financial year.

The fee is reported at around £34.5m plus add-ons, with the 24-year-old signing a five-year contract until 2031.

Arsenal make Hincapie loan move permanent in £35m deal

His loan spell more than justified the move. Hincapie made 39 appearances in all competitions as Arsenal ended their 22-year wait for the league title.

He started 20 league games for a defence that conceded just 27 goals, the fewest in the division.

His versatility proved invaluable to Mikel Arteta. A natural centre-back, Hincapie spent much of the campaign filling in at left-back.

Of his 2,763 minutes, 68% came in that role and 32% through the middle, underlining his adaptability.

The Emirates faithful quickly took to him. He won the club’s Player of the Month award in both February and April, a period when the title race reached its climax. His lone goal came in a draw at Wolves.

He arrives with genuine pedigree. Hincapie made 166 appearances for Leverkusen, helping Xabi Alonso’s side to an unbeaten domestic double in 2023-24.

He also started the Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in his debut Arsenal season.

The signing kicks off what promises to be a busy summer. Arsenal remain keen on Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers and Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi, and are in talks for Leicester teenager Jeremy Monga.

Hincapie, meanwhile, is currently with Ecuador at the World Cup and will be given time off before linking up for pre-season.

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