LONDON – In a transfer announcement timed just days before one of the most high-stakes matches of his international career, Premier League champions Arsenal have finalized the permanent signing of Ecuadorian center-back and left-back Piero Hincapié, the club confirmed Thursday.
The 24-year-old had joined the Gunners on a season-long loan from German Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen for the 2023-2024 campaign, and his performances over the course of the year triggered a clause in the loan agreement that required Arsenal to convert the temporary move into a full permanent contract. Hincapié will officially be listed as an Arsenal player starting next Wednesday.
Across his debut loan season in North London, Hincapié turned out 39 times for Arsenal in all club competitions, emerging as a key rotational option for manager Mikel Arteta. He spent the majority of his game time sharing starting responsibilities at left back with Italian newcomer Riccardo Calafiori, stepping in reliably for Europa League, domestic cup, and league fixtures when called upon.
The transfer news lands right in the middle of Hincapié’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with Ecuador, where he has played every minute of the team’s opening two group stage matches. So far, La Tri have recorded a narrow 1-0 defeat to Ivory Coast and a goalless stalemate against Curaçao, leaving them needing a positive result against four-time World Cup champions Germany in their final group fixture to keep their tournament hopes alive.
Fans across Arsenal’s global supporter base are already looking ahead to Hincapié’s first full season as a permanent member of the squad, as the club prepares for another deep run in both domestic and European competitions next year.