Defender Piero Hincapie has made his loan move from Bayer Leverkusen to Arsenal permanent.

The Gunners agreed a fee of £45m (52m euros) for the Ecuador international when he initially joined on loan last summer.

The 24-year-old made 39 appearances in all competitions for Mikel Arteta’s side as they won the Premier League.

Leverkusen said, external: “The conditions for the purchase option were met and defender Hincapie will therefore continue his career with the London club in the Premier League in the coming years.”

Hincapie is at the World Cup with Ecuador, who face Germany on Thursday.