Athletic Bilbao have identified Aymeric Laporte as their priority summer signing and are pulling out all stops to facilitate his return. The club has initiated contact and taken concrete steps to signal their intent, though they must first resolve the ongoing Nico Williams situation before focusing fully on the Spanish international. Manager Ernesto Valverde’s explicit request for Laporte is expected to carry weight.
Laporte has just one season left on his contract with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, which is undergoing a radical transformation—from the departure of its CEO and a managerial dismissal to Cristiano Ronaldo’s growing influence on team decisions. Athletic must navigate this complex landscape at Laporte’s current club, with Al-Nassr theoretically open to selling him this summer to avoid losing him for free in June 2026, especially as European clubs intensify their interest. The centre back is eager to return to Europe and prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with Spain under coach Luis de la Fuente.
His hefty €25 million annual salary poses a challenge, but Athletic are exploring ways to meet his wages without breaching financial constraints. They are leveraging Laporte’s emotional attachment to Bilba —shared by his wife and children, who were born in the Biscay capital—to sweeten the deal.
As an alternative, Athletic are also eyeing Unai Nuñez, with negotiations quietly underway. Celta Vigo are not in the running, and with time on their side, Athletic hope to secure Nuñez for less than his current €4 million asking price, which is expected to drop by August.
