Arsenal have gained themselves ahead of future rivals Tottenham Hotspur for Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapié. Due to good negotiation on the part of the club and the player’s desire to join, Arsenal gained a chance ahead of their competition. The Ecuadorian centre-back is who is worth €60 million. Moreover, he is now on the radar of Mikel Arteta’s Gunners side. They are trying to bolster their defensive options ahead of the September transfer deadline.
Tactical Fit and Arteta’s Vision
Hincapié hits the bill for Arteta’s criteria perfectly. The 23-year-old can also play as a left-sided centre back or wing back. He is great in buildup, great in progressive carries & counter-pressing, and those three characteristics would fit well into Arteta’s game. He can cope with the physicality of the premier league and has decent distribution too. It would take him time to adapt to the league. He is also a left-footed player. So when seeking defensive cover and balance in the back four at Arsenal, Hincapié is perfect. Arteta’s interest in Hincapié does indicate a slight change of approach to defenders. He wants a multi-functional and dynamic players who can adjust to tactical changes in matches.
🚨 Arsenal have four more players on their wishlist ahead of the transfer window shutting on Monday:
🔸 Piero Hincapie
🔸 Jon Martin
🔸 Arnau Martinez
🔸 Oscar Gloukh
(Source: @MailSport) pic.twitter.com/ARE2cgyORd
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) August 28, 2025
Competition and Player Preference
Tottenham had initially led the race for Hincapié, proposing a loan-to-buy deal matching his €60 million release clause. However, Arsenal’s entry changed the dynamics. Reports suggest Hincapié “prefers” a move to Emirates ahead of Spurs, in part, for Arsenal’s Champions League status and their history of battling for the title.This desire is what made Leverkusen change their terms even if Leverkusen is not really interested in selling Hincapié after losing other important players, such as Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong, this summer.
Financial and Structural Hurdles
Arsenal’s approach is contingent on outgoing transfers. The potential sale of Jakub Kiwior to Porto for €20 million would free funds and space for Hincapié. However, it will be complicated by Leverkusen’s firm stance on their valuation of the player and Hincapié’s contract running until 2029. Arsenal are attempting to negotiate down from the release clause, but Leverkusen’s sporting director Simon Rolfes publicly suggested that no official bids were accepted.
Broader Transfer Strategy
This decision shows Arsenal’s proactive approach in their summer transfer window after previously signing Viktor Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze, and Cristhian Mosquera. The quest to sign Hincapie is clearly an intention to add quality and depth, rather than quantity, and Arteta is looking for players to help a title challenge immediately.
Final Thoughts
Despite the remaining hurdles, Arsenal’s combination of exciting sporting projects and strategically negotiating of contracts lets them have significant advantage. If the Hincapié deal goes through, it could be the last piece in guaranteeing a defence which can finally deliver a league title to the club after 22 years.