Overview
- Al-Nassr reportedly entered the required data into FIFA’s Transfer Matching System after Spain’s window closed, invalidating the registration.
- Athletic Bilbao and Al-Nassr had agreed a €8.5 million fee with a three-year contract for the 31-year-old Spain international.
- Club officials in Bilbao are pursuing an exception from FIFA or the RFEF and are weighing an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
- Aymeric Laporte is expected to remain with Al-Nassr for now, leaving Athletic without the planned defensive leader.
- Bilbao’s Basque-only recruitment policy limits alternatives, with the team set to visit Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on October 5.