Defender returns to San Mames six-and-a-half years after leaving for Manchester City in a then club-record deal
Athletic Club have confirmed the signing of Aymeric Laporte from Al-Nassr, with the defender penning a deal until 2028 after Fifa granted approval for the move.
The Basque club were aiming to secure the 31-year-old’s services by deadline day, but the deal stalled when Fifa rejected the Spanish Football Federation’s (RFEF) request for an International Transfer Certificate (ITC).
The paperwork was not completed before Spain’s 1 September deadline, leaving Laporte’s registration in limbo.
On Thursday, Athletic announced that Fifa have now permitted the RFEF to obtain the ITC from the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, clearing the way for the centre-back to be registered.
Laporte returns to San Mames six-and-a-half years after leaving for Manchester City in a then club-record deal. He made 222 appearances in his first spell with Athletic before enjoying a trophy-laden period in England, winning five Premier League titles and 13 trophies in total under Pep Guardiola.
After joining Al-Nassr in 2023, Laporte featured regularly in Saudi Arabia but opted to seek a return to Spain this summer. With one year left on his deal, he was allowed to leave for a nominal fee of €10m.
