Arsenal have secured the loan signing of Piero Hincapie from Bayer Leverkusen, adding depth to their defense. The 23-year-old Ecuadorian international brings experience from the Bundesliga and international stage. In related moves, Fabio Vieira and Sambi Lokonga have departed, with Lokonga joining Hamburg permanently, and Jakub Kiwior has moved to Porto on loan.
Arsenal have officially announced the acquisition of Ecuadorian international defender Piero Hincapie from Bayer Leverkusen on a season-long loan deal for the 2025-26 campaign. The highly-rated 23-year-old centre-back brings a wealth of experience to the Gunners, having spent the last four years plying his trade in the Bundesliga with Leverkusen. During his time in Germany, Hincapie established himself as a key figure, racking up over 100 appearances and playing an instrumental role in Leverkusen's triumphant Bundesliga title-winning season in 2023-24.
Hincapie's journey to the upper echelons of European football began in his native Ecuador with Independiente del Valle, where he made his first-team debut as a precocious 17-year-old. His impressive performances quickly caught the eye of scouts from across the globe, and it wasn't long before he made the move to Europe to join Bayer Leverkusen.
On the international stage, Hincapie has already amassed an impressive 46 caps for Ecuador, showcasing his leadership qualities and defensive prowess. He was a prominent figure in Ecuador's squad at the 2022 World Cup and has also represented his country in two Copa America tournaments in 2021 and 2024.
The signing of Hincapie marks Arsenal's eighth acquisition of the summer transfer window, capping off what has been a productive period for the club as they look to strengthen their squad ahead of the upcoming season.
Ready to give his all pic.twitter.com/XBq8tjSnmL
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 1, 2025
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed his delight at the arrival of Hincapie, highlighting the player's physical presence, versatility, and tactical flexibility as key attributes that will bolster the team's defensive options. Arteta also praised Hincapie's character and blend of youth and maturity, emphasizing the positive impact he expects the defender to have on the squad.
"We are so pleased to welcome Piero Hincapie to the club," Arteta said. "Piero has a real physical presence, with his versatility and tactical flexibility giving us strong added defensive options. 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."
In addition to the arrival of Hincapie, Arsenal have also confirmed the departure of three players on loan deals. Fabio Vieira and Sambi Lokonga have both joined Bundesliga side Hamburg, with Lokonga's move being a permanent one. Furthermore, Jakub Kiwior has joined FC Porto on a season-long loan, providing him with an opportunity to gain valuable experience in a different environment.
Best of luck in Portugal, Jakub
Jakub Kiwior has joined FC Porto on a season-long loan
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 1, 2025
The departure of Vieira, Lokonga and Kiwior underscores Arsenal's commitment to streamlining their squad and providing opportunities for players to develop their careers elsewhere. The loan deals will allow these players to gain valuable playing time and experience, while also freeing up space in the Arsenal squad for new arrivals like Hincapie.
As Arsenal look ahead to the upcoming season, the addition of Hincapie and the departure of Vieira, Lokonga and Kiwior represent significant moves in the transfer market. The Gunners will be hoping that Hincapie can quickly adapt to the Premier League and make a positive impact on the team's defensive performance, while Vieira, Lokonga and Kiwior will be aiming to make the most of their opportunities at their respective new clubs.