Arsenal have taken up the option to sign defender Piero Hincapie on a permanent transfer from Bayer Leverkusen.

Hincapie joined Arsenal on loan at the end of last year’s summer transfer window, with the Gunners holding the option to make the move permanent.

The Gunners have now activated that clause, meaning the 24-year-old, who is on duty with Ecuador at the World Cup, will officially join them on July 1.

Hincapie was a mainstay in the Bayer Leverkusen team that won a domestic double under Xabi Alonso in the 2023-24 campaign.

The Arsenal get excited when they see you play

Enjoy Piero’s best moments from his debut season pic.twitter.com/pfOL0tB9pp

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) June 25, 2026

He made 39 appearances for Arsenal in 2025-26, as Mikel Arteta’s team won the Premier League title.

Hincapie, who spent most of his time at Leverkusen playing as a centre-back, was deployed mainly at left-back by Arteta.

Of the 2,763 minutes Hincapie has tallied up for Arsenal, he has spent 68% of that time at left-back, and 32% at centre-back.