Arsenal are trying to beat Tottenham to a defender for the second time this summer. Talks for Bayer Leverkusen’s Piero Hincapié have moved forward, with the Ecuador international understood to prefer a move to the Emirates. That lines up with reporting from David Ornstein, who says Arsenal have taken concrete steps to land the 23-year-old before the window shuts on September 1.
In today’s Arsenal transfer news, the focus is clear: add a left-sided centre-back who can push William Saliba and Gabriel, cover left-back in a pinch, and play through pressure. Hincapié ticks those boxes. He was a key part of Leverkusen’s title-winning side in 2023–24, comfortable stepping into midfield, aggressive in duels, and calm on the ball. For Mikel Arteta, who wants defenders who can build attacks as much as stop them, he’s a natural fit.
Where the Hincapié deal stands
Tottenham tried to structure a loan with an obligation to buy at around $70 million next summer. Arsenal’s move appears to have shifted the player’s stance toward the red half of north London. The Gunners are working on a fee slightly below that reported release clause, likely with add-ons and a payment plan that eases the immediate hit on their books. Leverkusen will want full value for a starter in his prime years; Arsenal will argue the structure and the player’s preference make a compromise sensible.
Arsenal’s pitch is straightforward: Champions League football, a clear role on the left of central defense, and a manager who values Hincapié’s profile. Internally, the plan is to maintain the Saliba–Gabriel partnership while adding genuine rotation and injury insurance. Hincapié also gives Arteta tactical flexibility—back three if required, inverted full-back patterns when building play, and the pace to defend in space when Arsenal push their line high.
One catch: outgoings. The move is expected to hinge on at least one defensive departure. Jakub Kiwior has interest from Porto, and Oleksandr Zinchenko is available if the right offer lands. If Kiwior goes, a left-footed replacement becomes urgent. If Zinchenko leaves, Hincapié’s ability to slide to left-back on certain days becomes even more valuable.
Timing matters. With the deadline a week away, Arsenal are pushing to align three tracks—fee with Leverkusen, green light from the player’s camp, and clarity on exits. If one of those stalls, the deal could flip from “advanced” to “parking brake on” quickly. For now, momentum is with Arsenal.
There’s also the rivalry angle. Arsenal already beat Spurs to Eberechi Eze earlier in the summer. Adding Hincapié after Tottenham’s loan-plus-obligation approach would underline the current pecking order in north London’s market battles.
Squad planning, spending and the final-week dominoes
This has been one of Arsenal’s heaviest windows under Arteta and Edu. Spending sits at £247.9 million, with just £4.2 million recouped. That net outlay puts the spotlight on how the club balances the books across fees, wages, and future sales. Structuring deals over long contracts spreads costs, and Champions League revenue helps, but late-window sales will still matter.
The starting XI has been upgraded in three lines. Viktor Gyökeres (Sporting Lisbon, £55.5m) brings penalty-box power and pressing. Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad, £55.8m) is a metronome with bite, allowing Declan Rice to alternate between destroyer and box-to-box roles. Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace, £60m) adds one-v-one brilliance, ball-carrying, and shots from awkward angles—things Arsenal lacked when teams sat deep.
Noni Madueke arrives as a wide option who can threaten the back post and attack from the right, while Kepa Arrizabalaga gives Arsenal another senior goalkeeper for a long season across four competitions. If Hincapié joins, Arteta would have a squad deep enough to rotate without losing identity.
Here’s the business so far, and what could still move:
- Incoming: Viktor Gyökeres (£55.5m), Martin Zubimendi (£55.8m), Eberechi Eze (£60m), Noni Madueke, Kepa Arrizabalaga
- Confirmed departures: Jorginho (Flamengo, free), Kieran Tierney (Celtic)
- Possible exits: Jakub Kiwior (linked with Porto), Oleksandr Zinchenko (available)
Two other names are hovering in the background: Real Madrid’s Rodrygo and Rennes defender Jérémy Jacquet. Rodrygo would be a headline move, but that depends on Real Madrid’s own plans and would likely require a major sale or a creative structure. Jacquet is a different type of target—developmental depth if Arsenal miss on primary options or push a defensive signing into January.
Why push this hard for a defender now? Last season showed the cost of thin margins. Arsenal chased titles across two fronts and leaned heavily on Saliba and Gabriel, who both logged huge minutes. A third high-level centre-back reduces risk, allows targeted rotation, and protects the level when injuries hit or fixtures stack up.
There’s also the tactical layer. With Zubimendi and Rice, Arsenal can play with a single pivot or a double pivot without losing control. Hincapié’s passing range helps break presses from the left, and his speed is insurance when Arsenal trap opponents in their half. When Arteta wants a back three in possession, Hincapié can step wide while Ben White drives high on the right. These details matter when opponents prepare to sit deep or spring counters.
Financially, Arsenal are managing three levers: transfer fees, wages, and amortization. Expect any Hincapié deal to run on a long contract to spread costs, with add-ons tied to appearances and trophies. Leverkusen may push for a sell-on clause as well. To offset the summer spend, Arsenal will look for clean exits rather than subsidized loans. That’s partly why interest in Kiwior and Zinchenko is being entertained.
Registration rules add a final wrinkle. Eze helps the homegrown quota. Hincapié would fill a non-homegrown slot, so moving out at least one non-homegrown defender keeps lists flexible for both Premier League and UEFA squads. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it influences sequencing.
So what should fans watch in the last week? Price movement on Hincapié, clarity on Kiwior’s future, and any real traction on Zinchenko. Spurs’ response is another subplot—do they pivot to an alternative left-sided centre-back if Hincapié slips away? And keep an eye on wide forward chatter; if nothing changes out, Arsenal will likely park that until January.
Arsenal’s posture is bold: front-load quality while the team is close to a title. If they close Hincapié, they’ll enter September with depth in every line and the flexibility to manage a 60-game season. If not, they’ll still have addressed three key needs—goals, midfield control, and creativity—and set themselves up to revisit defense in the winter. Either way, the final days of this window will be busy in north London.