Defender Piero Hincapie has officially transitioned from a loan spell at Bayer Leverkusen to a permanent deal with Arsenal. The Gunners agreed to a fee of £45m (52m euros) for the Ecuador international, who initially joined the club on loan last summer.

During his time with Arsenal, the 24-year-old made an impressive 39 appearances across all competitions, contributing to the team's success as they clinched the Premier League title.

In a statement, Bayer Leverkusen confirmed the move:

The conditions for the purchase option were met and defender Hincapie will therefore continue his career with the London club in the Premier League in the coming years.

This permanent transfer marks a significant step for both Hincapie and Arsenal as they look to build on their recent success.