Arsenal may promote Myles Lewis-Skelly within the summer switch window, with the left-back a possible casualty of sporting director Andrea Berta’s choice concerning Piero Hincapie.
Hincapie joined Arsenal on mortgage from Bayer Leverkusen within the summer of 2025, with the Gunners having a purchase possibility fastened for €52million (£45m, $61m).
While it’s nonetheless solely the center of March, Arsenal have already determined to make the 24-year-old defender’s mortgage deal everlasting.
Our buddies at TEAMtalk reported on February 24, 2026, that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been impressed with Hincapie, with the Gunners ‘preparing’ to hold him on a everlasting deal.
Earlier this month, switch guru Fabrizio Romano revealed that Hincapie would be the first signing for Arsenal sporting director Berta within the summer of 2026.
Romano stated on his YouTube channel: “Yes, Piero Hincapie would be the first signing for Arsenal in summer 2026.
“It was at all times deliberate like this. If you bear in mind with David Raya and Brentford, Arsenal did one thing comparable a number of years in the past.
“So, signed a participant on mortgage with a buy-out possibility clause however was at all times going to be a everlasting switch within the following summer, that’s what’s going to occur additionally with Piero Hincapie.
“There is already every little thing signed between Hincapie and Arsenal when it comes to contract, a five-year deal.
“So, it’s already signed and accomplished. Piero Hincapie already feels as an Arsenal participant on a everlasting switch.
“Bayer Leverkusen will obtain a complete package deal of €52million and Bayer Leverkusen can even hold a ten% sell-on clause for Piero Hincapie. So, that is the settlement.
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“Everything will be formally announced at the very end of the season because obviously, in terms of Financial Fair Play, this was a gentleman’s agreement between Bayer Leverkusen and Arsenal.”
Hincapie is a flexible defender who can function as a central defender or as a left-back.
The 24-year-old Ecuador worldwide has performed 14 occasions as a left-back for Arsenal this season.
Riccardo Calafiori is another choice for Arsenal supervisor Arteta at left-back and has made 22 appearances in that position this season.
TEAMtalk has reported that Arsenal will not sell Calafiori in the summer transfer window, which is unhealthy information for Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Lewis-Skelly has damaged into the Arsenal first workforce after coming by the academy and is a Hale End graduate.
While the 19-year-old has performed 14 occasions within the Premier League this season, solely considered one of them has come as a starter.
According to The Times, Lewis-Skelly is among the gamers at Arsenal whose future is doubtful.
The report has famous: ‘There are doubts concerning the futures of Gabriel Martinelli, 24, who has two years left on his deal, and the academy merchandise Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri due to their potential for normal begins.
‘Arteta loves Kai Havertz, 26, and his captain Martin Odegaard, 27, but both players are set for contract talks with two years left on their deals.’
The Times has added that Ben White and Christian Norgaard ‘may be upgraded’, too.
Regarding Lewis-Skelly, it might be a very bitter blow for the left-back if he had been to be offloaded.
The left-back starred for Arsenal towards Real Madrid within the Champions League quarter-finals final season and has began six occasions in Europe’s premier membership competitors to this point this marketing campaign.
Lewis-Skelly has additionally earned six caps for England, and there’s no doubt that he has a vibrant future.
The Arsenal left-back has been linked with Chelsea previously, and former Blues participant Jason Cundy believes that the long run is bleak for {the teenager} on the Emirates Stadium.
Cundy stated about Lewis-Skelly on talkSPORT (10:44pm, March 16, 2026): “The factor about Lewis-Skelly – he might need to depart.
“Hincapie, in the event that they signal him completely, Hincapie, you’ve got Calafiori, the place’s Lewis-Skelly going to go?
“His worldwide profession, he could possibly be going to the World Cup. He isn’t going to the World Cup now.
“You have gotten Lewis Hall in there. You have gotten Nico O’Reilly at left-back.
“When you noticed Lewis-Skelly make his debut for England, he may go and play 100 caps.
“I wonder if Arsenal might think about selling him, based on Hincapie.”
Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith, too, has tipped Lewis-Skelly to leave the Gunners this summer.
Smith stated earlier this month: “It’s been a very troublesome season for Myles Lewis-Skelly, hasn’t it?
“He’s behind two gamers, actually, for the left-back slot.
“If he did get an opportunity, I’d fairly like to see him in midfield. That’s his place.
“Just see how he fares there. He’s not the most effective of defenders, so it fits him higher in midfield. He’s actually artistic.
“I think it’ll probably be a shop window for him. I think there’s every chance he might leave in the summer. We’ll see on that.”
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