Chelsea may pursue 23-year-old Ecuadorian international Piero Hincapie from Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen in the summer transfer window.

According to a report by Caught Offside, Piero Hincapie is the subject of interest from Bayer Leverkusen. The Blues are keen on reinforcing their defensive unit by signing a centre-back in the summer transfer window after losing Levi Colwill to a long-term knee injury. So, the 23-year-old Bayer Leverkusen defender has emerged as a target for the West London club.

Piero Hincapie and his Bundesliga story so far

Piero Hincapie has established himself as one of the best young prospects in the Bundesliga since joining Bayer Leverkusen from CA Talleres in August 2021. The South American defender moved to the BayArena as a promising teenager, spending most of his formative years in Ecuador.

While the 23-year-old has not been an undisputed first-choice starter for Bayer Leverkusen for most of his spell with the Bundesliga club, he has played his part in the club’s ascent and eventual Bundesliga title triumph in the 2023/24 season. Hincapie has turned out over 150 times thus far for the German outfit while chipping in with seven goals and five assists.

Meanwhile, the Ecuadorian defender’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several European bigwigs. Premier League outfits, in particular, are keen on signing Hincapie, with Chelsea among the prospective suitors vying for his signature in the summer transfer window.

London calling?

Chelsea’s interest in Piero Hincapie is understandable. The Blues are scouring the market for a centre-back this summer after losing Levi Colwill to a long-term knee injury. The English defender will miss most of the 2025/26 season after picking up the fitness issue last week, forcing Chelsea to dip into the market for a central defender.

While Jorrel Hato can fill in for Levi Colwill, Enzo Maresca has insisted that Chelsea will dip into the market for a centre-back in the summer transfer window. So, Hincapie has emerged as a viable target, although he is not the only candidate on the West London club’s wishlist.

However, Hincapie can be a like-for-like replacement for Colwill, and his physical profile makes him an ideal fit at Chelsea. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for the 23-year-old Ecuadorian international.