Aymeric Laporte Back to Athletic Club: Ex-Man City Defender Set for Free Transfer from Al-Nassr
When footballers talk about “home,” it’s rarely just about a house or a city. For Aymeric Laporte, that word has always meant Bilbao. And after a year of turbulence in Saudi Arabia, the ex-Manchester City defender is finally on the verge of returning to his old club, Athletic Club, in what could be one of the most important feel-good stories of the season.
According to reports in Spain, Laporte has agreed to terminate his contract with Al-Nassr and is now set to join Athletic on a free transfer. Despite the transfer window already being closed, his status as a free agent makes the move possible. The deal is expected to run for three years, and all that’s left is the final paperwork with the Spanish Football Federation.
La Liga themselves have already mentioned the transfer in their official post-window review, effectively treating it as a done deal. For Athletic, the timing couldn’t be better. Injuries to defensive stalwarts Yeray Álvarez and Egiluz have left Ernesto Valverde short at the back, and the chance to bring in someone of Laporte’s calibre—without a transfer fee—feels like the perfect solution.
Aymeric Laporte’s Return: Why Athletic Needed Him
Athletic Club are riding a wave of momentum after a superb 2023/24 season that saw them finish fourth in La Liga and secure Champions League qualification. For a team that has long been admired for sticking to its Basque-only player policy, competing at Europe’s top table is both a source of immense pride and a monumental challenge.
To navigate the demands of La Liga, the Champions League, and the Copa del Rey, Valverde knew he would need more depth and experience in central defence. Laporte ticks both boxes. At 31, he brings not only leadership but also the invaluable experience of playing in and winning some of the biggest matches in world football during his Manchester City days.
The timing of his arrival is also critical. With Athletic about to embark on their European adventure, adding someone who knows what it takes to play under pressure could be the difference between surviving the group stage and making a real impact.
From Bilbao to Manchester and Back Again
Laporte’s story has always been closely intertwined with Athletic. Born in Agen, France, to Basque parents, he joined the club’s academy as a teenager and worked his way up to the first team. By the mid-2010s, he was already one of the most sought-after young defenders in Europe.
That potential convinced Manchester City to splash out more than £50 million in January 2018 to bring him to the Premier League. It was a record fee for a defender at the time, but Pep Guardiola saw him as the ideal ball-playing centre-back for his possession-heavy style of football.
Laporte repaid that faith. He was a mainstay in the City side during their 2018/19 domestic treble-winning campaign, and he went on to lift multiple Premier League titles, an FA Cup, and EFL Cups. Injuries occasionally disrupted his rhythm, but when fit, he was a first-choice defender in one of the greatest club teams ever assembled.
Why Saudi Arabia Didn’t Work Out
Al Shabab v Al Nassr: Saudi Pro League
After five trophy-laden years in England, Laporte surprised many by making the switch to Al-Nassr in 2023. On paper, it looked like a statement signing for the Saudi Pro League, with Cristiano Ronaldo already at the club and stars like Sadio Mané also joining. But the reality was different.
Laporte struggled to settle, both on and off the pitch. Reports suggested he wasn’t fully comfortable with the lifestyle change, and the level of football didn’t match the competitive drive he had grown used to in Europe. It didn’t take long before whispers of a return to Bilbao started to surface.
By the time the summer of 2025 arrived, the defender had already made it clear he wanted out. With Athletic eager to bring him back, the two sides found a way: terminate his contract and rejoin as a free agent.
A Boost for Valverde and the Fans
For Ernesto Valverde, Laporte’s arrival is not just about plugging a gap in defence. It’s about sending a message. Athletic Club are not in the Champions League to simply make up the numbers—they want to compete. And bringing back a player who has been to the summit of European football is a clear sign of intent.
For the fans, it’s even more emotional. Laporte is one of their own, a product of Lezama, who left in his prime but never forgot where he came from. His decision to push for a return, even when he could have continued earning a lucrative salary in Saudi Arabia, resonates deeply with the Athletic faithful. It’s a reminder that, sometimes, loyalty and belonging matter more than money.
The reception Laporte will receive at San Mamés once his return is confirmed promises to be spine-tingling. The Basque crowd values players who embody their philosophy, and Laporte fits that bill perfectly.
What Laporte Brings to Athletic Club Now
Laporte is not the same player who left Bilbao in 2018. He’s more experienced, more tactically mature, and perhaps even hungrier to prove himself again on Spanish soil. His strengths remain his calmness under pressure, ability to play out from the back, and aerial dominance.
In a league where margins are often fine, having a defender who can both neutralise opposition strikers and launch attacks with precise passing is a massive asset. His chemistry with Unai Simón, Spain’s number one goalkeeper and a fellow Athletic player, will also be an important factor.
And with the Champions League looming, Valverde knows he will need leaders in the dressing room. Laporte has been in the tunnel before Champions League finals; his presence alone raises the level of those around him.
A Fairytale Chapter Awaits
All that stands in the way now is official registration with the Spanish Football Federation. Once that’s done, Laporte will once again pull on the red-and-white stripes of Athletic Club.
It’s rare in modern football to see a player force his way back to a former club out of a genuine sense of belonging. But Laporte’s journey—from Bilbao to Manchester, through Saudi Arabia, and now back home—feels like it’s coming full circle.
For Athletic, it’s a dream signing at the perfect time. For Laporte, it’s a chance to reconnect with the club that made him, and to write one final, glorious chapter in the story of his career.
And for the fans at San Mamés, it’s simple: Aymeric Laporte is back where he belongs.
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