Piero Hincapié grew up in Esmeraldas, Ecuador, and began his career at Independiente del Valle before joining Talleres in Argentina. Bayer Leverkusen signed him in 2021.
A left-footed defender who can play centre-back or left-back, he was part of Leverkusen’s unbeaten double-winning team in 2023/24. Arsenal signed him in 2025.
Hincapié is a regular for Ecuador.
Playing style
Hincapié is a left-footed defender who can play at centre-back or left-back, and on the left of a back three. He is quick, aggressive and strong in the tackle, and he is comfortable carrying the ball forward into midfield. At Leverkusen he was part of the unbeaten 2023/24 double-winning team under Xabi Alonso, where he learned to defend in a high line and to build play from the back. His versatility and athleticism make him valuable in the Premier League, where he can cover several positions across the back line.
International career
Hincapié made his Ecuador debut in 2021 and has become a regular starter. He played at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and at the 2024 Copa América, and helped Ecuador qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
Career in numbers
Across 9 seasons of senior club football, beginning in 2019, Hincapié has played 234 matches and scored 8 goals for 4 clubs. His best scoring return came in 2024/25: 3 goals in 45 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen. So far in 2026/27 he has made 4 appearances for Arsenal. The full season-by-season record is in the Stats section of this profile.