Players must stay with club
Transfer breakdown on the Deadline Day: Change burst
02.09.2025 – 8:41 p.m.Reading time: 1 min.
Actually, Aymeric Laporte’s transfer was already a decided thing. But then one of the clubs involved made a serious mistake.
Everything actually seemed regulated – but in the end it was missing for a few minutes. The change from Aymeric Laporte to Athletic Bilbao failed at the last moment. The club had firmly planned the European champion as a new defensive chief, but al-Nassr did not enter the necessary transfer data in the FIFA system in time.
According to Spanish media, the agreement with the club from Saudi Arabia had drawn up, but ultimately came about. The contract for three years and a transfer fee of 8.5 million euros was negotiated – just too late in the so -called transfer matching system (TMS). The transfer window was closed and the deal burst.
However, Bilbao still has the hope that FIFA or the Spanish Association RfEF could steer.
Laporte knows the club well. Between 2012 and 2018, the 31-year-old was already running for Bilbao before moving to Manchester City and moving to Saudi Arabia in 2023.
The Basques traditionally only rely on players from their own provinces or those who were trained in a youth club in the region. This significantly limits the transfer options. On October 5, the club will compete in the Champions League near Borussia Dortmund.