Before completing the signing of Riccardo Calafiori, Arsenal considered a move for Piero Hincapie of Bayer Leverkusen.

Riccardo Calafiori after signing for Arsenal (Photo via Arsenal.com)
Riccardo Calafiori after signing for Arsenal (Photo via Arsenal.com)

Arsenal completed the signing of Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna this week, with the defender signing a five-year deal to join the Gunners, but he wasn’t the only defender on their radar this summer.

James McNicholas reports for The Athletic that Ajax’s Jorrel Hato was initially under consideration, but the player then signed a new contract.

Piero Hincapie of Bayer Leverkusen was then put forward by Arsenal’s recruitment department, before the club eventually landed on Calafiori.

Senegal's forward #13 Iliman Ndiaye and Ecuador's defender #03 Piero Hincapie fight for the ball during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group A football match between Ecuador and Senegal at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on November 29, 2022. (Photo by JUNG YEON-JE/AFP via Getty Images)
Senegal’s Iliman Ndiaye and Ecuador’s Piero Hincapie fight for the ball during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group A football match between Ecuador and Senegal at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on November 29, 2022. (Photo by JUNG YEON-JE/AFP via Getty Images)

Arsenal have been linked with Hincapie for a while, with German outlet Bild suggesting the Gunners were interested in him all the way back in December 2022.

A year and a half later, it seems that move finally came close to fruition this summer, only for Arsenal to turn to Calafiori instead.

Hincapie will likely get the chance to play at the Emirates Stadium next week all the same, with Leverkusen travelling to north London for a friendly match.

DORTMUND, GERMANY: Piero Hincapie of Bayer Leverkusen is challenged by Jadon Sancho of Borussia Dortmund during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Signal Iduna Park on April 21, 2024. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)
DORTMUND, GERMANY: Piero Hincapie of Bayer Leverkusen is challenged by Jadon Sancho of Borussia Dortmund during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Signal Iduna Park on April 21, 2024. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)

The 22-year-old made 43 appearances for Leverkusen last season as they won the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal, as well as reaching the final of the Europa League.

Given his age, Hincapie still might end up having a move to the Premier League in his future. But Arsenal’s summer demands for a left-sided defender have seemingly now been met.