Arsenal are reportedly paying just £34.5m for Piero Hincapie this summer, leaving a huge chunk of this year’s transfer budget still available.
By winning the Premier League and reaching the Champions League final, Arsenal brought in plenty of money in 2025/26, and the expectation is that much of that revenue will be reinvested in the summer transfer market.
Arsenal are looking to position themselves to compete to defend their Premier League title in 2026/27, and that’s going to require another push. The Gunners’ rivals certainly aren’t going to kick back and let Mikel Arteta’s team win it again without a fight.
But one stumbling block is the fact Arsenal already have one big-money summer commitment, having delayed the permanent signing of Piero Hincapie from last year.
Hincapie joined on an initial loan from Bayer Leverkusen, and his permanent deal will only be included in this year’s financial accounts.
But Art de Roche reports for The Athletic that the amount Arsenal owe this summer is just €40m (£34.5m), with the rest of the reported €52m fee agreed last year seemingly stemming from a loan fee and add-ons.
Whilst £34.5m is still a decent outlay, it’s nothing out of the ordinary for a club like Arsenal. The Gunners made four signings for more than that last summer, with Martin Zubimendi, Eberechi Eze, Viktor Gyokeres, and Noni Madueke’s deals all easily trumping that figure.
So whilst the £34.5m payment is still a consideration going into this summer’s market, it’s not likely to stop Arsenal from spending big on further signings.
Arsenal pre-agreed a five-year contract with Hincapie prior to his loan move, which will become active on July 1st. As a result, he’ll be tied down until 2031, longer than anyone else in the squad.
Hincapie made 39 appearances for Arsenal in his debut campaign, scoring one goal and providing a couple of assists. Signing as a versatile option capable of playing at left-back or centre-back, the 24-year-old spent plenty of time in both positions in 2025/26.
The season ultimately ended with Arsenal as Premier League champions.
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