Not for sale! Arsenal refuse to let defender join Barcelona
Barcelona have suffered a setback in their pursuit of an Arsenal defender.
Details: According to Football Insider, Arsenal have no intention of selling 24-year-old Ecuadorian defender Piero Hincapié during the January transfer window, despite growing interest from Barcelona. Head coach Mikel Arteta is determined to keep the player at the Emirates, as he wants to maintain sufficient depth in his defensive line.
Interestingly, Hincapié has struggled for playing time this season. The Ecuadorian has featured in just five Premier League matches, spending only 67 minutes on the pitch. Moreover, he has yet to make a single league start in the 2026/27 campaign.
The defender is currently competing with Riccardo Calafiori for a place on the left flank of Arsenal's defence. Nevertheless, Arteta highly values Hincapié's versatility, as the player can also operate as a centre-back.
A transfer could become an option next summer, but only under one condition: Arsenal must secure an immediate replacement for the Ecuador international. For now, the London club have no plans to sanction his departure.
It's worth noting that Hincapié joined Arsenal permanently from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2026, having previously spent a season on loan with the Gunners. During the 2025/26 Premier League campaign, he made 25 appearances, scoring one goal and providing two assists.
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Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
