Premier League champions Arsenal said on Thursday they have taken up the option to permanently sign defender Piero Hincapie, who joined on loan from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen last season. Media reports said Arsenal paid £34.5 million ($45.5 million) plus add-ons to sign the 24-year-old Ecuador international on a five-year deal. Hincapie, who is currently at the World Cup, made 25 league appearances last season as Arsenal lifted the English top-flight title for the first time in 22 years, Reuters reported. He had also prominently featured in Leverkusen's Bundesliga campaign in 2023-24, when they won the German league unbeaten. Hincapie, who started in Ecuador's first two Group E matches, is expected to play against Germany later on Thursday.
