Arsenal to Make Hincapie Transfer Permanent

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed his strong endorsement of defender Piero Hincapie, crediting former Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso for helping seal the player's arrival last summer, as the club prepares to activate a permanent transfer this summer. The 24-year-old Ecuador international joined on a season-long loan from Leverkusen in August 2025, outpacing interest from Tottenham Hotspur, and has since become a key fixture in the team's defense.

Arteta's decision to pursue Hincapie was influenced by a conversation with Alonso, who described the player in glowing terms. Speaking ahead of Arsenal's Champions League last-16 first-leg match against Leverkusen on Wednesday in Germany, Arteta told TNT Sports, "When I spoke to Xabi just before we were going to sign him, I said if you have to describe him in one word, what would you use, and he said, 'He's a warrior.' He will play through brick walls for you and he's one of the most competitive players that I have had." Arteta added that Hincapie, despite recovering from surgery and missing preseason, has integrated seamlessly, displaying "an aura, a charisma, a really special character" that makes him seem like a...