Andrea Berta praised for 'ingenuity' in Arsenal landing Piero Hincapie thanks to special clause in deal with Bayer Leverkusen

Berta, who joined Arsenal in March 2025, oversaw a summer of unprecedented activity at the club, culminating in the €52 million (£45.2m) signing of Hincapie. The Athletic report that the deal required coordination with Jakub Kiwior’s departure to Porto - Hincapie’s arrival was conditional on Kiwior leaving, while Kiwior’s exit depended on Hincapie being secured. Arsenal also had to manage cash flow and financial regulations, prompting Berta to engineer a loan-permanent hybrid agreement with Leverkusen, allowing both clubs to trigger the permanent move. Berta received kudos internally for coming up with this solution.

Berta’s role has largely been focused on first-team transfers and contract renewals, operating quietly behind the scenes. His work has helped Arsenal strengthen their squad across multiple positions, including the additions of Viktor Gyokeres as a marquee striker, Eberechi Eze, Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Cristhian Mosquera and Christian Norgaard.

Berta previously spent 12 years at Atletico Madrid, building a reputation as a shrewd operator and dealmaker. His first summer at Arsenal saw a change in direction from his predecessor, Edu Gaspar, who preferred a more public approach to deals.

With the transfer window closed, Berta’s attention may now turn to contract renewals for players including Bukayo Saka and William Saliba.