Athletic Team News Page 12 - Soccer

What readers think about Villarreal-Barcelona being played in the U.S. Reaction to the proposed move by La Liga has been mixed. We asked for your views

AUGUST 14, 2025 • NYTIMES.COM

The Alternative Premier League Table: No 1 – Making sense of season predictions and projections Each week The Athletic will analyse the Premier League through the prism of the league table

AUGUST 14, 2025 • NYTIMES.COM

How Liverpool play: Relentless full-backs, a reshaped midfield and a set-piece reboot The Athletic looks at the tactical setup of Arne Slot's Premier League champions ahead of the 2025-26 season

AUGUST 13, 2025 • NYTIMES.COM

Barcelona 2025-26 season preview: Next-level Yamal, high-line worries and Rashford's new role Barca get their La Liga title defence up and running on Saturday night when they visit Mallorca

AUGUST 13, 2025 • NYTIMES.COM

How Sunderland play: Fast breaks, wide triangles, and lots of dribbles The Athletic looks at the tactical set-up of Regis Le Bris' promoted outfit as they return to the Premier League in 2025-26

AUGUST 13, 2025 • NYTIMES.COM

Real Madrid ask FIFA to block Villarreal vs. Barcelona from being held in Miami On Monday, the RFEF approved La Liga’s request for the match to be played at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium in December.

AUGUST 12, 2025 • NYTIMES.COM

The Athletic's Premier League predictions for 2025-26: Title winner, best signing and much more What does The Athletic's predicted Premier League table look like? Our writers get out their crystal balls and look ahead to the new season

AUGUST 11, 2025 • NYTIMES.COM

Yuri Berchiche - Returns in friendly Berchiche (ankle) was in the starting XI of Saturday's pre-season friendly against Arsenal, confirming his return from injury.

Impact Berchiche suffered an ankle injury in the last match against Liverpool but the issue proved to be minor as he returned to start against the Gunners on Saturday, confirming he is fit for Bilbao. This is good news for the club as he is the undisputed starter at left back.

AUGUST 10, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Unai Egiluz - Undergoes successful surgery Egiluz (knee) underwent a successful surgery on Wednesday, the club announced.

Impact Egiluz suffered a torn ACL in the pre-season friendly against Racing Santander and has now undergone successful surgery before starting his long-term recovery. Egiluz will now be out of action for nine to 12 months to recover from the injury. This is a big blow for the club since he was expected to play a role at the beginning of the season with Yeray Alvarez still suspended and limited depth in central defense.

AUGUST 7, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Unai Egiluz - Tears ACL Egiluz has suffered a torn ACL and will likely miss the 2025/26 season, according to his club.

Impact Egiluz went down in a friendly against Liverpool and has met the worst fate possible, as he is dealing with a torn ACL. That will likely keep him out for the rest of the season, as he will have around a nine to 12-month recovery period to go through. He didn't see a single minute all of the past two seasons with the club and looks to be making it a third straight after the injury.

AUGUST 5, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Benat Prados - Picks up thigh injury Prados has been confirmed to have suffered a thigh injury in Monday's friendly against Liverpool, according to his club.

Impact Prados is heading to the sidelines just a few days ahead of the start of the season, with the midfielder suffering a thigh injury. This will leave him out for a few weeks, likely to eye a return near the end of August. The club will have to act without their first option off the bench in the midfield, and are already down Oihan Sancet (knee), so Robert Navarro and Mikel Vesga could see more time with Prados out.

AUGUST 5, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Oihan Sancet - MCL injury confirmed Sancet has been confirmed to have suffered an MCL injury in Monday's friendly against Liverpool, according to his club.

Impact Sancet has received his evaluation after suffering an injury yesterday and has been handed unfortunate news, as the attacker was dealt a MCL injury in his knee. That said, the attacker will be sidelined for the time being, likely missing a few weeks to months due to the injury. This is unfortunate news for the club, as he was set to be a starter, with Unai Gomez as a possible replacement heading into matchday one.

AUGUST 5, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Yuri Berchiche - Suffers ankle injury Berchiche suffered an ankle injury in a pre-season friendly against Liverpool on Monday, according to Marca.

Impact Berchiche suffered an ankle injury in one of Monday's pre-season friendlies after Mohamed Salah stepped on his ankle. The left-back will likely be assessed back in Bilbao to check if there is no major issue with his injury. That said, if he has to miss some time to recover from it, Adama Boiro will likely see increased playing time in the backline for Athletic.

AUGUST 5, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Oihan Sancet - Injured Monday Sancet was forced off with an apparent injury during Monday's friendly with Liverpool.

Impact Sancet came off with an apparent injury during the second friendly Monday. The attacking midfielder would be a big loss if ruled out for the season-opener, an Aug. 17 clash with Sevilla. Sancet is expected to be a consistent starter when fit in La Liga.

AUGUST 4, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Benat Prados - Leaves friendly early Prados was forced off the field in the 13th minute of a friendly against Liverpool on Monday due to an apparent injury.

Impact Prados only lasted 13 minutes before he midfielder had to be taken off the field Monday. This is a brutal time for the midfielder to have gone, only with two weeks until the opening match of the season. He isn't projected to start but is their first depth option and could be needed if any other injuries arise, so the club will hope for a quick recovery.

AUGUST 4, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Unai Egiluz - Forced off injured Egiluz was forced off injured in Wednesday's pre-season friendly against Racing Santander after suffering a knee strain, the club announced.

Impact Egiluz suffered a knee strain in Wednesday's friendly against Racing Santander and will have to undergo further examinations to determine the extent of his injury. This is a big blow for the young player since he was expected to be part of the senior squad to start the season after signing a contract extension. That said, Egiluz will hope to recover as quickly as possible to be a valuable depth option in the backline for Athletic.

JULY 31, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Aitor Paredes - Suffers muscle overload Paredes is suffering from a muscle overload in his left leg and was forced off in the last contest for that reason, he is currently training individually, the club announced.

Impact Paredes was forced off in their last pre-season friendly due to discomfort in his left leg caused by muscle overload. He is currently training individually with hopes of returning as soon as possible, as he is expected to start in central defense until the suspension case of Yeray Alvarez is resolved.

JULY 31, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Iñaki Williams takes pride in being Athletic's first Black captain when 'far-right is fashionable'

Iñaki Williams is taking pride in becoming the first Black captain for Athletic Bilbao

JULY 29, 2025 • Associated Press

Yeray Alvarez - Temporarily suspended Alvarez has been temporarily suspended by UEFA after testing positive in a doping control following the first leg of the Europa League semi-final against Manchester United, the clu...

Impact Alvarez overcame cancer and announced on his Instagram that the positive result was due to the accidental ingestion of a hair loss medication containing a banned substance. The disciplinary proceedings are currently under investigation and are subject to confidentiality, but the defender has been temporarily suspended by UEFA from playing football. This is a big blow for Athletic since Alvarez is an undisputed starter in central defense. Until the club and the player resolve the situation, Aitor Paredes is expected to have a larger role in the backline.

JULY 28, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Inside Rashford's loan move to Barcelona: Messaging Yamal, a €30m buy option and why 'he will have to run' The Manchester United forward will spend this season with Hansi Flick's La Liga champions. Here's how the move happened

JULY 25, 2025 • NYTIMES.COM

Jesus Areso - Joins Athletic Areso has completed a transfer to Atheltic from Osasuna, according to his new club.

Impact Areso will not play with Osasuna this season after completing a transfer, remaining in Spain on a deal until 2031 with Atheltic. He is coming off a solid campaign, starting in 35 of his 36 appearances while adding three assists, finishing his second straight season as their starter at right-back. He will now likely assume that spot with his new club, a solid defender that can serve in a solid two-way role.

JULY 22, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Unai Egiluz - Inks contract extension Egiluz has signed a contract extension until 2028 with Athletic, the club announced.

Impact Egiluz will remain at the club for three more seasons and will join the first team of Athletic after signing a contract extension. Egiluz has played around 50 games over the last two seasons with Bilbao Athletic and CD Mirandes and will now be part of the senior squad as a depth option in central defense heading into the 2025/26 season.

JULY 21, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Thiago Almada's Atletico Madrid move sums up the transfer industry in 2025 Former MLS star's switch to La Liga is full of sub-plots that epitomise the globe-spanning complexity of the modern football machine

JULY 20, 2025 • NYTIMES.COM

Athletic Bilbao player Yeray Álvarez suspended for taking banned substance in hair loss treatment

Athletic Bilbao player Yeray Álvarez says he has been provisionally suspended after falling a banned substance test due to taking a medicine to prevent hair loss caused by cancer t...

JULY 11, 2025 • Associated Press

Alex Padilla - Returning to Athletic Club Padilla has returned to Athletic Club after his loan at Pumas UNAM was cut short, his parent club announced Friday.

Impact Padilla finished his first campaign in Mexico with 28 saves, 20 goals against and two clean sheets throughout 12 league matches. Additionally, he stopped 10 shots and conceded six times in six CONCACAF Champions Cup appearances. He's expected to operate as Unai Simon's backup at Athletic Club following the departure of Julen Agirrezabala, who signed with Valencia.

JULY 11, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

ATHLETIC NEWS

NEWS

SCHEDULE

STANDINGS

ROSTER

VIDEOS

STATS

ODDS

Iñaki Williams takes pride in being Athletic's first Black captain when 'far-right is fashionable'

Athletic Bilbao player Yeray Álvarez suspended for taking banned substance in hair loss treatment