Piero Hincapie has completed a permanent move to Arsenal, ending all speculation about his future after a standout debut season with the Premier League champions.

The Gunners triggered their £45 million purchase option on the Ecuador international, converting his loan from Bayer Leverkusen into a full transfer. The deal had been structured from the outset: Arsenal agreed the fee when Hincapie first arrived at the Emirates last summer.

Bayer Leverkusen confirmed the deal in an official statement: