Press reports have revealed Arsenal's stance on permanently signing Ecuadorian defender Piero Hincapié during the upcoming summer transfer window, following the performances he has delivered with the team this season.

The London club had signed Hincapié last summer on loan from German club Bayer Leverkusen until the end of the season. The player succeeded in earning the trust of head coach Mikel Arteta and became an important member of the team.

According to renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal intends to turn Hincapié's loan deal into a permanent transfer starting from next June, indicating that the decision has already been finalized within the club.

Romano clarified on his account on the "X" platform that the deal was initially made on a loan basis due to financial fair play regulations, but it was planned from the start to become a permanent transfer, similar to what happened with the goalkeeper David Raya's deal.

He added that the value of the deal that Bayer Leverkusen will receive from Arsenal amounts to 52 million euros, in addition to the German club receiving 10% of the value of any future transfer of the player.

During the current season, Piero Hincapié participated in 29 matches with Arsenal across various competitions, totaling 2,037 minutes of play, during which he scored one goal and provided an assist.

Arsenal is set to face Bayer Leverkusen in an anticipated clash in the Round of 16 of the 2025/2026 UEFA Champions League. The first leg will be held in Germany on March 11, while the return leg will take place at the Emirates Stadium on March 17, 2026.