Arsenal have completed the signing of Piero Hincapie on a permanent deal.
The Ecuador defender joined the Gunners on a season-long loan deal last summer, and he played a big part in helping them win the Premier League title.
There was never any doubt about Arsenal signing Hincapie on a permanent deal, but reports have linked him with an immediate move away.
That, however, is unlikely to happen now.
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Arsenal confirm Piero Hincapie is here to stay
Piero Hincapie won over Arsenal fans with his performances last season.
The Bayer Leverkusen loanee took some time to get over injury troubles, but once he got into the side, he was absolutely fantastic at left-back.
Those performances unsurprisingly caught the eye of several big clubs who are on the market for a new versatile defender.
Both Barcelona and Real Madrid are interested in Hincapie, but Arsenal have always held all the cards.
The Gunners have now officially triggered their option to buy him permanently, and they have even dropped a hint about his future.
The first words in Arsenal’s announcement post were ‘Hincapie’s here to stay’, which suggests that he is going nowhere in this window.
Furthermore, several reports have claimed that the Gunners will not entertain any offers for the Ecuadorian in this window.
That is absolutely the right decision, and we expect Hincapie to play a key part next season as well.
Arsenal’s Piero Hincapie deal is an Andrea Berta masterclass
Andrea Berta received a lot of praise for signing Hincapie on loan last season, but he deserves even more plaudits now.
The Athletic claim that a deal between Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen for a permanent transfer was struck for just £34.5 million.
That is an absolute steal for a Premier League champion who can play in two different positions and is still only 24 years old.
Berta was always known as a shrewd negotiator, and this permanent deal for Hincapie proves that.
We can’t wait to see what else he has in store for us in this window.
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