Overview

• Arsenal completed a deadline‑day move for Piero Hincapie on an initial loan from Bayer Leverkusen, closing a window of roughly £250m that added Eberechi Eze, Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Zubimendi.
• Earlier reports differed on the deal’s mechanics, with some citing a £45m option to buy and others describing a loan worth around £52m that was widely expected to convert.
• A new report says Arsenal are obliged to pay £45m to sign Hincapie permanently next year, with the “option” wording used to align the expense with future accounts.
• Hincapie told club media he prefers playing centre‑back, can fill in at full‑back, and sees himself as pacey and strong on the ball, and he said Granit Xhaka praised the club when consulted.
• Coverage links the late addition to Jakub Kiwior’s request to leave and notes an early opening for minutes with William Saliba currently sidelined.