Arsenal's summer transfer window once again blended big-money investment with their long-standing faith in youth.
After finishing second in the Premier League last season, and reaching the Champions League semi-finals, the club doubled down on its squad rebuild.
Major arrivals included Martin Zubimendi, Viktor Gyökeres, Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze, Cristhian Mosquera, Christian Nørgaard and Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Departures such as Jakub Kiwior, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Reiss Nelson cleared space in the squad, while Arsenal also leaned heavily on their Hale End academy graduates.
Ethan Nwaneri, now 18, continues to develop after becoming the Premier League’s youngest-ever debutant in 2022.
Max-Dowman-Arsenal
Myles Lewis-Skelly enjoyed a breakout season, and Max Dowman, still only 15, made his senior bow against Leeds.
That commitment to the academy has become a central pillar of Arsenal’s squad-building philosophy under Mikel Arteta.
Arsenal 2025 summer window (timeless)
Yet while several young prospects have been integrated, others have slipped away.
The balance between spending heavily and nurturing talent is once again at the heart of Arsenal’s defensive planning.
Who is Piero Hincapié, and Why Did Arsenal Sign Him?
When Arsenal announced the arrival of Piero Hincapié from Bayer Leverkusen on loan with a £45m option to buy, it was framed as a major upgrade on the left side of their defence.
At 23, the Ecuadorian international already brings European pedigree, with 32 Bundesliga appearances last season, contributing two goals and two assists.
Piero Hincapie in action for Bayer Leverkusen
Piero Hincapie in action for Bayer Leverkusen
Hincapié has been on Arsenal’s radar for years, valued for his ability to operate at both left centre-back and left-back.
With Gabriel undergoing hamstring surgery at the end of last season and Riccardo Calafiori struggling with fitness, versatility is essential.
Sporting Director Andrea Berta emphasised Hincapié’s tactical flexibility, and Arteta believes he is not simply cover but a genuine competitor for a starting role. His statistical profile backs up the excitement.
Piero Hincapié - 2024/25
Matches Played
Progressive Carries
Progressive Passes
Tackles
Blocks
Aerials Won
Source: FBref
Compared to positional peers, Hincapié ranked in the 96th percentile for progressive carries (1.69 per 90), underlining his comfort driving forward with the ball.
He also sat in the 86th percentile for progressive passes (4.94 per 90) and an eye-catching 94th percentile for key passes (0.54 per 90) - numbers that show how he can help Arsenal’s build-up from deep.
Defensively, he impressed in the 89th percentile for tackles won (1.29 per 90) and the 86th percentile for passes blocked (0.72 per 90).
Frimpong-Hincapie-Leverkusen
This blend of defensive solidity and forward-thinking distribution makes him a natural fit for Arteta’s system, where centre-backs are expected to initiate attacks as much as they are to shut them down.
His arrival represents a continuation of Arsenal’s recent strategy: recruit players with multi-positional value while retaining the ability to progress possession.
Ayden Heaven could have been Hincapie 2.0
As Arsenal commit to potentially spending £45m next summer to make Hincapié’s move permanent, questions linger over whether they let a homegrown option slip through their fingers.
Ayden Heaven, once considered one of the Hale End academy’s brightest defensive prospects, departed for Manchester United in February for a fee of just £1m.
ayden-heaven-arsenal
Ayden Heaven for Arsenal.
His departure came after limited opportunities at the Emirates despite being highly rated within the club. Analyst Ben Mattinson once described Heaven as “highly unique,” and he has quickly shown why.
Drafted into United’s first-team picture earlier than expected after Lisandro Martínez’s season-ending injury, the 18-year-old has already made eight appearances for the Red Devils.
He has looked composed in possession, comfortable carrying the ball out from defence, and tactically assured despite his age.
United moved quickly to secure him on a long-term deal running until 2029, amid reported interest from Barcelona, Frankfurt and Marseille.
Ayden-Heaven
Heaven’s profile, a left-footed defender who is confident on the ball, is precisely the type of player Arsenal are now looking to integrate through Hincapié.
The irony is hard to miss.
Where Hincapié ranks among Europe’s best for progressive actions, Heaven has showcased similar traits in his early United outings.
His poise on the ball and ability to step into midfield mirrors the qualities Arteta demands from his defenders.
For a club that has prided itself on giving opportunities to youth, losing Heaven for such a modest fee may come to be seen as a misstep.
Heaven
The comparison is not to suggest Hincapié is the wrong signing - his experience and proven metrics make him a high-level addition.
But for a side that has successfully nurtured Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly, the case of Heaven highlights the fine margins of squad planning.
Arsenal could soon pay £45m for a defender to fill the very role that a Hale End graduate, now at a Premier League rival, may have slotted into seamlessly.