Arsenal are working on signing Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie, who has previously drawn comparisons to Tottenham Hotspur's defender Cristian Romero. After four years at Leverkusen, Hincapie is set to be Arsenal's eighth summer signing.
football.london understands that the Gunners have agreed an initial loan arrangement with an option to buy for £45million, despite the 23-year-old's release clause being set at £50m. He is seen as Arsenal's successor for Jakub Kiwior, who is set to leave for Porto.
Hincapie has previously confessed that his brother likened him to Spurs defender Romero, although the Ecuador international has aimed to emulate other top stars in his game. Here is a closer look at Hincapie's career so far.
Early years and move to Bayer Leverkusen
Hincapie left home to chase his football dreams as a 10-year-old, attending his club CS Norte America's boarding school in Guayaquil. He later joined Independiente del Valle, where he clinched the U20 Copa Libertadores and made three first-team appearances before securing a move to Argentinian club Talleres.
During his year in Argentina, he played 22 times for Talleres. Hincapie later made his debut for Ecuador during the 2021 Copa America, where his performances caught the eye of Leverkusen.
Hincapie, who can play as a centre-back or left-back, has clocked up 166 appearances for the German side. He featured in 26 league matches during Leverkusen's historic first Bundesliga title win in 2024 and played a key role in their DFB-Pokal triumph and journey to the Europa League final.
Comparisons with Cristian Romero and role models
It's not hard to see why Hincapie's brother likened him to Spurs defender Romero, who is known for his fiery temperament and occasional reckless challenges. Since his move to Germany four years ago, Hincapie has been suspended 10 times, amassing nine yellow cards and one red card over 45 games last season.
Romero was once labelled "absolutely mad" by Gary Neville following a rash challenge on Callum Wilson in December 2023. "He's mad, him, honestly," Neville said on Sky Sports.
"Absolutely mad. I think it's a red card at first look. He's crazy, Romero. He always has to tackle. Slowing players down doesn't come into his head."
However, Hincapie looked up to two other footballers during his formative years in Ecuador. He spent time studying footage of Real Madrid stalwart Sergio Ramos and Barcelona legend Carles Puyol.
"I watched the videos so I wouldn't get bored on the bus, and that's when I realised that I really liked Puyol," Hincapie shared with Scouted Football, as reported by Bundesliga.com. "He had a special way of playing, perhaps less technical than Ramos, but he was a leader and captain. One of the best centre-backs I've ever seen."
Piero Hincapie's family values
Hincapie has emphasised his family's crucial role in guiding him through his career, leaving Ecuador for Argentina and then moving to Europe. After signing for Leverkusen amid interest from several clubs, his eldest brother accompanied him to Germany.
"I had different offers from Europe and I considered them all carefully. I spoke to my family, to myself, to God – and I opted for Bayer 04," Hincapie told Leverkusen's club website. "I have great respect for the country and the language and my family had always emphasised that a lot of Latinos play here – and some of them for many years. That was an important reason. Because if they stay here for a long time then they must feel at home."
The defender has previously expressed gratitude towards his parents for the upbringing he and his siblings received. However, Hincapie quickly acknowledged the financial responsibility that comes with being a top-flight footballer.
"I'm suddenly earning much more money for our circumstances," Hincapie admitted. "That's not so important to me because I just want to play football. But now I have the chance to help my family.
"Of course, I allow myself something as well but the most important thing for me is to be able to give something back to my parents and everybody else and that I can ensure that they have a comfortable life. My nanna's income isn't enough to live on. When everybody is looked after then I can also allow myself a couple of expensive things."