Arsenal is in advanced talks to sign Ecuadorian defender Piero Hincapié from Bayer Leverkusen, with the €60 million release clause (roughly £52 million) standing at the heart of the negotiations.
Hincapié, 23, has expressed a clear desire to move to Arsenal over rivals like Tottenham, putting the Gunners in pole position — though Leverkusen remain firm that the clause must be met.
Even if Arsenal meets that financial threshold, the deal hinges on freeing up space in their bloated squad. Key names on the departure shortlist include Jakub Kiwior, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fábio Vieira, and Reiss Nelson. Reports suggest Kiwior is likely to leave—Porto is closing in on a deal worth around £21.5 million based on current loan-to-buy structures, which would clear the way for Hincapié’s arrival.
Read Also: Betis Near Agreement To Bring Antony Back From Man United
From a tactical perspective, Hincapié brings what manager Mikel Arteta values: aggressive pressing, positional versatility across centre-back and left-back, and ball-playing acumen. Analysts consider him a modern defender tailor-made for Arsenal’s system.
For Leverkusen, losing Hincapié would cap a summer of high-profile departures, including manager Xabi Alonso. However, the club remains open to activating the clause in full. Some reports suggest Arsenal is even exploring a loan with obligation-to-buy model to smooth the financial impact.
At Emirates Stadium, the timing is critical. With limited time left in the summer window, offloading fringe defenders must happen quickly for Arsenal to bolster their backline. Hincapié’s move promises to deliver both defensive quality and strategic depth — if the dominoes fall as planned.
