Sources close to Athletic Bilbao have confirmed that the club has reached an agreement with Aymeric Laporte to sign him this summer.
Laporte, who is currently playing for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, is determined to return to his boyhood club, regardless of whether they qualify for the Champions League.
The Spanish international is willing to take a significant pay cut in order to make the move happen, although he knows that Al Nassr will have the final say.
Laporte has made it clear on more than one occasion that he is not happy in Saudi Arabia, and despite playing an important role for the team led by Cristiano Ronaldo, he wants to return to Europe.
With a contract that runs until June 2026 and a market value of around €25 million, it seems unlikely that Bilbao will be able to afford to sign him outright, so a loan move is the most likely option.
If the move is confirmed, it will be a major boost for new Athletic Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde, who is hoping to lead the team to Champions League qualification next season.
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