Chelsea are preparing a £52 million bid for Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie as manager Enzo Maresca seeks defensive reinforcements following Levi Colwill’s ACL injury.
Chelsea Ready to Push for £52m Piero Hincapie Signing After Colwill Injury
The 22-year-old English centre-back is expected to miss most of the 2025/26 season, leaving a significant gap in Chelsea’s backline.
Hincapie, a 23-year-old Ecuador international, has emerged as Chelsea’s top target. The Blues are willing to offer him a contract worth around £116,000 per week (£7.7 million annually), placing him among the club’s highest earners alongside compatriot Moisés Caicedo.
Personal terms are not expected to be an issue, but negotiations with Leverkusen could prove tricky, as the Bundesliga side have already lost key players like Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong this summer.
Hincapie is a left-footed, ball-playing defender who excels in progressive systems—making him an ideal fit for Maresca’s tactical approach.
Capable of playing both centre-back and left-back, his versatility would provide cover for Marc Cucurella while adding depth to Chelsea’s injury-hit defence.
Leverkusen value Hincapie at around €70 million (£60.4 million), but Chelsea hope to negotiate a deal closer to €60 million (£51.8 million). The Blues may need to offload players like Axel Disasi or Renato Veiga to fund the move.
While Barcelona and Bayern Munich have previously shown interest in Hincapie, Chelsea are now leading the race. If signed, he would join new arrivals Jorrel Hato and Tosin Adarabioyo in bolstering Chelsea’s defensive options.
With the transfer window closing soon, Chelsea are expected to intensify talks in the coming days. A successful deal could be crucial in their pursuit of silverware this season.
