Arsenal are set to finalise the permanent signing of Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie for a fee of €52 million (£45m). According to Fabrizio Romano, the 24-year-old Ecuador international has already agreed to a five-year contract in North London that will run until June 2031. The move is expected to be funded in part by the departure of 26-year-old defender Jakub Kiwior, with FC Porto reportedly prepared to activate a €20m (£17m) purchase clause following his recent loan spell in Portugal. Beyond defensive reinforcements, Romano also reports that Arsenal are in active talks to secure 17-year-old Red Star Belgrade midfielder Vasilije Kostov for a total package worth approximately €20m.
Arsenal's defensive rotation and the Hincapie deal
The permanent acquisition of Hincapie follows a successful integration period where the versatile left-sided defender proved his tactical value to Mikel Arteta. The €52m fee mirrors the market rate for elite young ball-playing defenders, sitting just below the £50m Arsenal paid Brighton for Ben White in 2021. Hincapie’s arrival effectively replaces Kiwior, who never fully established himself as a regular starter after his £20m move from Spezia in January 2023. By offloading Kiwior to Porto for a similar €20m figure, Arsenal are maintaining squad liquidity while upgrading their technical floor. This structured approach to the market provides the club with necessary breathing room regarding Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) after several windows of heavy spending.
The pursuit of Vasilije Kostov and youth recruitment strategy
Arsenal’s interest in Vasilije Kostov indicates a continued shift toward aggressive scouting of high-ceiling European youth. Speaking on the Here We Go podcast, Fabrizio Romano confirmed that while Italian and German clubs are monitoring the Serbian midfielder, Arsenal are "following him closely." The proposed deal is understood to consist of a €12m upfront payment with a further €8m in performance-related bonuses. Kostov, who has been compared to Barcelona’s Pedri due to his press-resistance and vision, would represent a significant investment in the post-Berto era of Arsenal's recruitment. Given the teenager's age, any deal would likely see him join the academy setup or be loaned back to Belgrade to ensure continued senior minutes before an English top-flight debut.
Arsenal expect to formalise both signings shortly after the transfer window opens in June, provided the final payment structures with Leverkusen and Red Star are ratified.