Piero Hincapié is set to join Arsenal from Bayer Leverkusen on a deal that will double his wages, with the Ecuador defender already saying farewell.
Piero Hincapié is on the brink of completing a move to Arsenal that will see him double his salary and become one of the Premier League’s highest-paid defenders.
The 23-year-old said his goodbyes to Bayer Leverkusen supporters on Saturday after being named on the bench for their Bundesliga game against Werder Bremen.
He did not feature, and head coach Erik ten Hag all but confirmed his departure. “Letting good players leave always hurts,” Ten Hag told Sky Sports. “But we also have other good players and they then need to take on that task.”
According to multiple reports, Arsenal will pay €52 million (£45 million) to secure Hincapié, though the deal is structured as an initial loan with an option to buy. The upfront cost is €6 million (£5 million), with the remainder of the fee delayed until the option is triggered.
Leverkusen have retained a 10 per cent sell-on clause.
The financial package represents a massive change for the Ecuador international. Hincapié is set to earn over €6.5 million (£5.6 million) per season in north London, almost double the €3.4 million he received in Germany.
That equates to roughly £108,000 per week, placing him among the elite earners in English football, and well above Jakub Kiwior‘s £58,000. The Pole trained with Arsenal early on Saturday but is expected to join Porto on a loan with an obligation.
Hincapié will also receive a 10 per cent slice of his transfer value, equating to around £4.5 million, from which he will cover agent and negotiation fees, with a bit left over for himself.
The defender will initially sign a season-long loan contract, but Arsenal are expected to take up the option for a five-year permanent deal in 2026, extending his stay until 2031.
The use of an option rather than an obligation allows both clubs to manage their accounts more carefully, delaying the bulk of the €46 million fee until next year.
He is expected in London today for his medical.
The move caps a rapid rise for Hincapié, who only a few years ago broke through at Independiente del Valle.
Now, after four seasons in the Bundesliga and a starring role in Ecuador’s defence, he is preparing for the next stage of his career at the Emirates.