Premier League champion Arsenal said ​on Thursday it has taken up the option ​to permanently ⁠sign defender Piero Hincapie, who joined on loan from ‌Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen last season.

Reports said ‌Arsenal ⁠paid 34.5 million euros (USD 45.5 million) ⁠plus add-ons to sign the 24-year-old Ecuador international on ​a ‌five-year deal.

Hincapie, who is currently at the FIFA World Cup, made ‌25 league appearances last ​season as Arsenal lifted the English ⁠top-flight title for the first time in ‌22 years.

He had also prominently featured in Leverkusen’s Bundesliga campaign in 2023-24, when it won the ‌German league unbeaten.

Hincapie, ​who started in Ecuador’s first two ⁠Group E matches, is expected ⁠to play against Germany later on ‌Thursday.

Published on Jun 25, 2026