Piero Hincapié


Piero Martín Hincapié Reyna is an Ecuadorian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back or left-back for club Arsenal, on loan from club Bayer Leverkusen, and the Ecuador national team.
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Club career

Early career

Hincapié began playing football at the age of seven, initially for local clubs Escuela Refinería, Emelec and Barcelona. Aged ten, the defender moved to Guayaquil with Norte América. After a spell with Deportivo Azogues, he joined Independiente del Valle in November 2016. Hincapié was promoted into their first-team in August 2019 for a Serie A match with Mushuc Runa. He was selected to start and played the full duration of a narrow home defeat. In the subsequent 2020 campaign, shortly after winning the U-20 Copa Libertadores, Hincapié made appearances off the bench against Universidad Católica and Macará.

Talleres

On 20 August 2020, Hincapié agreed a five-year contract with Primera División side Talleres; who paid $1,000,000 for 50% of his pass.

Bayer Leverkusen

In August 2021, Hincapié signed for the German Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen. He made his debut on 16 August, coming into the Europa League group stage match against Ferencváros as Leverkusen won 2–1. He scored his first goal for the club on 30 September, scoring the opening goal against Celtic in a 4–0 victory in the Europa League. In the 2023–24 season, Hincapié was part of the Leverkusen team that won the club’s first ever Bundesliga title.

Loan to Arsenal

On 1 September 2025, Hincapié joined Premier League club Arsenal on a season long loan with an option to buy reportedly set at £45 million. He made his debut off the bench against Athletic Bilbao in the UEFA Champions League on 16 September. He had picked up a groin injury shortly after the game during training. On 26 October, Hincapié made his league debut, also from the bench, against Crystal Palace. He made his full EFL Cup debut on 29 October against Brighton & Hove Albion, and full league debut on 23 November against Tottenham Hotspur.

International career

Hincapié appeared for the Ecuador U15s in 2017. In 2019, Hincapié represented his country as captain at U17 level. He played seven times at the South American U-17 Championship in Peru, before featuring four times at the subsequent FIFA U-17 World Cup in Brazil.
Hincapié was selected in the 28 player Ecuador squad for the 2021 Copa América. On 13 June 2021, Hincapié debuted for the Ecuador senior squad in a 2021 Copa América match against Colombia, playing the full match as Ecuador lost 1–0.
On 14 November 2022, Hincapié was named in Ecuador's 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He played 90 minutes in the group stage win against Qatar, the draw against the Netherlands, and defeat against Senegal.
Hincapié was called up to the final 26-man Ecuador squad for the 2024 Copa América.

Career statistics

International

Scores and results list Ecuador's goal tally first.
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
111 November 2021Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado, Quito, Ecuador1–01–02022 FIFA World Cup qualification
216 June 2024Pratt & Whitney Stadium, East Hartford, United States2–12–1Friendly
326 June 2024Allegiant Stadium, Paradise, United States1–03–12024 Copa América

Honours

Independiente del Valle
Bayer Leverkusen
Individual