A Return in the Works – But Not Yet Official
Aymeric Laporte, the 31-year-old centre-back currently at Al-Nassr, has reached a three-year agreement with Athletic Club, marking what would be a high-profile homecoming after his departure in 2018. The deal reportedly involves a €10 million signing bonus and a salary of around €6 million per season.
Laporte made 222 appearances for Athletic between 2012 and 2018, before moving to Manchester City, where he enjoyed immense success—winning multiple Premier League titles, the Champions League, and being crowned European Champion with Spain in Euro 2024.
Documentation Issues Threaten Registration
Despite the agreement being in place, Laporte’s official registration with LaLiga has stalled, due to missing or incomplete paperwork from Al-Nassr, submitted late to FIFA’s Transfer Matching System (TMS). While Athletic asserts they submitted all required documents on time to LaLiga, the delay and incomplete data from the Saudi club have raised doubts about whether Laporte can be registered before the transfer window closes.
Likely Outcome: Laporte Left in Limbo until Winter
According to AS, FIFA has confirmed that the delayed and flawed documentation does not allow Laporte to be registered in this window, meaning he won’t be eligible to play for Athletic Club until the winter window. Athletic is reportedly considering an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS) to reverse the decision. Meanwhile, this poses a serious issue for Athletic’s defense, already thin due to the suspension of Yeray Álvarez and the serious knee injury for Unai Egiluz.
Summary Table
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Transfer Agreement | Laporte has signed a 3-year deal with Athletic Club, includes ~€10M signing bonus, ~€6M/year salary |
| Motivation | Return to formative club amid defensive crisis and fading playing time in Saudi Arabia; hopes to re-boost his LaLiga and Spain exposure |
| Main Obstacle | Transfer paperwork was submitted late and incompletely by Al-Nassr to FIFA’s TMS |
| Current Status | Registration not completed; Laporte cannot play until winter window unless appeal succeeds |
| Next Steps | Athletic considering appeal to TAS; waiting on final decision expected soon |
In conclusion, while Aymeric Laporte’s return to Athletic Club represents a major sporting coup and emotional homecoming, it remains unofficial until the transfer is properly validated. Administrative difficulties—particularly missing documents and late submission—have put his registration in jeopardy, potentially delaying his debut until January’s winter window. Athletic’s hopes now rest on a quick resolution or a successful appeal.