Overview
- Athletic Bilbao has publicly set an €80 million price for Aymeric Laporte and says it will not accept less.
- Barcelona’s sporting director Deco lodged a formal enquiry and watched Laporte play at the World Cup, but Camp Nou is unlikely to press a move given the valuation and strained relations with Athletic.
- Laporte’s performances for Spain, notably his partnership with Pau Cubarsi, significantly boosted his stock at the World Cup and prompted renewed transfer interest.
- Real Madrid are mentioned as admirers in media reports but have made no formal approach and face questions about spending €80 million on a 32-year-old who has two years left on his contract.
- Laporte returned to Athletic in summer 2025 after an overturned FIFA paperwork ruling, Athletic’s market stubbornness and the fallout from the Nico Williams episode make a high-fee transfer difficult and could push interested clubs to pursue other defensive targets.