Piero Hincapie emulates Arsenal Invincible as Bayer Leverkusen loan transfer and permanent clause confirmed

Arsenal have confirmed the loan signing of Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie, who will immediately follow in the footsteps of Tony Adams in North London.

The Ecuador international has become the Gunners' eighth and final arrival of the summer window, following Eberechi Eze, Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke, Martin Zubimendi, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Cristhian Mosquera and Christian Norgaard to the Emirates Stadium.

Hincapie's loan move to Arsenal is understood to include an obligation to buy under certain conditions, which are expected to be triggered at the end of the 2025-26 season.

The 23-year-old arrives in North London with a Bundesliga winners' medal from the 2023-24 season, having been a part of Leverkusen's historic Invincibles season, the same year he won the club's Player of the Year award.

"We are so pleased to welcome Piero Hincapie to the club," Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta told the official Arsenal website. "Piero has a real physical presence, with his versatility and tactical flexibility giving us strong added defensive options.

Arteta, Andrea Berta react to Piero Hincapie Arsenal arrival

Welcome to The Arsenal, Piero Hincapie ?
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 1, 2025

"He is a big character, with a very good combination of both youth and maturity. He will make our squad stronger and more competitive as we continue into this season. We welcome Piero and his family to Arsenal."

Meanwhile, sporting director Andrea Berta added: "We are delighted to have completed the loan signing for the season of Piero Hincapie. At only 23, Piero already has significant experience, both in the Bundesliga and at international level.

"He is an intelligent defender with real strength and versatility. His performances in recent years for both club and country have been of a consistent high quality, and we are confident Piero will continue to grow this season and be an important player for us."

Arsenal's permanent clause for Hincapie is understood to be set at £45m, and the Ecuadorian could make his Gunners debut at home to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on September 13 following the international break.

Hincapie - who can function as a left-back or left-sided centre-back - leaves Leverkusen having managed seven goals and five assists from 166 appearances for Die Werkself in all competitions during a productive four-year spell.

Hincapie emulates Arsenal legends as shirt number confirmed

In a very early show of faith in the South American, Arsenal have bestowed their new signing with the traditional centre-back's number five shirt, meaning that he is already following in the footsteps of some defensive greats.

The '5' was most previously sported by Thomas Partey, who left the club as a free agent at the end of last season, prior to which several Premier League-winning defenders held that iconic shirt for the Gunners.

Kolo Toure - a fellow Invincible - was Arsenal's number five from 2006 to 2009, while Martin Keown, Tony Adams and Steve Bould also donned the '5' during their Highbury days.

Hincapie arrives at Arsenal following the ankle injury to William Saliba, who withdrew from the France squad after spraining his ankle in the warm-up to Sunday's 1-0 Premier League loss to Liverpool.