Athletic Bilbao have officially re-signed Aymeric Laporte from Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr. It marked a dramatic return for the Spain defender. The move was initially blocked due to administrative delays. However, it has now been cleared after FIFA authorised the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to obtain an International Transfer Certificate (ITC).
The transfer saga began in late August when Athletic and Al Nassr agreed terms. However, Al Nassr reportedly failed to upload the necessary documents into FIFA’s transfer matching system before the September 1 deadline. As a result, FIFA initially rejected the RFEF’s request for an exception.
Without approval, the deal collapsed, leaving Laporte in limbo. Athletic appealed the ruling, and the case advanced to FIFA’s Dispute Chamber. After reviewing the situation, FIFA reversed their stance. This allowed the transfer to go through as Laporte signed a deal till 2028. Athletic confirmed the signing in a statement, saying:
“Athletic Club can confirm that FIFA has authorised the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to obtain an International Transfer Certificate (ITC) from the Saudi Arabian Football Federation. Once this ITC has been issued, Aymeric Laporte will be able to register with Athletic Club.”
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The signing has been crucial for Bilbao, who were short of defensive options after Yeray Alvarez’s 10-month suspension for a doping violation. The 31-year-old defender’s arrival will especially help the club navigate through a busy campaign that includes Champions League football.
Laporte first rose to prominence at Athletic. He made 222 appearances between 2012 and 2018 before joining Manchester City. He spent five and a half seasons in England and won 13 trophies, including five Premier League titles and the Champions League. In 2023, he left for Al Nassr in a €27.5 million move.
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There, he played alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. However, his time in Saudi Arabia proved brief. With Al Nassr reshaping their squad, Laporte’s role diminished. He eventually sought a return to Europe. Now back at San Mames after six and a half years, Laporte has the chance to re-establish himself in La Liga.
Bidding farewell to Al Nassr, he wrote on Instagram: “Dear Al Nassr fans, my time at this great club has come to an end. I’m grateful for this experience, full of memories and growth, and proud to have been part of the SPL’s rise on the world stage.”
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