FIFA Blocks Laporte to Bilbao Transfer

Athletic Bilbao announced on Wednesday that FIFA had refused the transfer of central defender Aymeric Laporte.

It’s no. The International Football Federation (FIFA) rejected the transfer of defender Aymeric Laporte to Athletic Bilbao, the Basque club announced on Wednesday in a press release, in which it ensures the options to integrate the player.

“The Athletic Club wishes to inform its supporters and supporters that FIFA refused the request of the Spanish Football Federation which aimed to obtain the International Transfer Certificate (CTI) via the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, in order to finalize the signature of Aymeric Laporte”indicates the Athletic. According to the Spanish press, Bilbao, which is playing the Champions League this season, and Al Nassr, where the Spanish international has been playing since 2023, agreed on Monday on the transfer of the player, before the official closing of the transfer window to Spain. But this one had not been formalized.

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Athletic Bilbao admitted in its press release on Wednesday that the club had submitted “The transfer request” on the FIFA IT platform, even “If he had not been able to complete her completely in time for reasons independent of her will and because of external factors escaping her control”without specifying which ones. It is for this reason that the Spanish Football Federation had asked for a “Exceptional validation” to FIFA, which has been refused.

“The Athletic Club continues to work to satisfy the will of the three parties (Al Nassr, the player and the Athletic Bilbao) and is studying all the legal possibilities”adds the club. Aymeric Laporte, 31 years old and European champion with Spain in 2024, already played in Bilbao between 2012 and 2018. He then signed in Manchester City, where he won the Champions League in 2023 before joining Al Nassr.

Aiko Tanaka

Aiko Tanaka is a combat sports journalist and general sports reporter at Archysport. A former competitive judoka who represented Japan at the Asian Games, Aiko brings firsthand athletic experience to her coverage of judo, martial arts, and Olympic sports. Beyond combat sports, Aiko covers breaking sports news, major international events, and the stories that cut across disciplines — from doping scandals to governance issues to the business side of global sport. She is passionate about elevating the profile of underrepresented sports and athletes.

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