The sporting director of a European club has confirmed that a highly-rated star will join Arsenal after the end of the 2025/26 season, as the Gunners prepare to face David Moyes’ Everton on Saturday (March 14).
Mikel Arteta’s team is having a very positive season and still has the chance to win four trophies: the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and EFL Cup.
Summer signings such as Noni Madueke, Martin Zubimendi, Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze have significantly helped improve Arteta’s squad this season, while Cristhian Mosquera and Christian Norgaard have proven to be reliable team players whenever they have been called upon to the field.
Meanwhile, Piero Hincapie has also made a good impression since arriving on loan from Bayer Leverkusen last summer. The 24-year-old Ecuadorian defender has made 30 appearances, scoring one goal and providing one assist.
The loan deal includes a purchase option, allowing Arsenal to permanently sign the player this summer for a fee of around €52 million.
The German club’s sporting director, Simon Rolfes, virtually confirmed that the transfer would be made permanent, during a statement ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League round of 16 tie against Leverkusen earlier this week.
Before the 1-1 draw in Germany, Rolfes said it was a “pleasure” to welcome Kai Havertz back to his former club, before also talking about Hincapie’s move to Arsenal.
“Due to the Covid pandemic, there was never the opportunity or the environment to properly say goodbye to him (Havertz), even though we met afterwards. But now it is a very special moment for him to return to the BayArena, and of course for Piero too.”
“He is still officially our player and is currently only on loan, but the transfer will happen and I think that for Piero too this is something very special,” Rolfes declared.