Athletic secures its new gem against the interest of Europe's giants
The Basques have not hesitated for a second; they know they have a diamond in the rough and they don't want to let it slip away.
Christian Imga has become the big news of the Athletic Club de Bilbao as he has reached an agreement with the club to improve his salary conditions and extend his contract until June 20231. The 17-year-old winger, who has already debuted with the first team of Edin Terzic, will also have an automatic extension clause that will allow the club to prolong his association.
According to MARCA, the deal has been finalized with Lian Sports, the footballer's new representation agency, and includes another contract review in February 2027, when he reaches legal adulthood. The agreement comes before Imga travels with Spain to the Under-17 World Cup in Qatar.
Soy pesao con Christian Imga (17) pero vaya diamante tiene el Athletic. 💎⚡️ Su gol ahora con la Sub-18 🇪🇸 a Brasil. https://t.co/mZrxekQmGR
— Selección&Rojita (@SeleccionRojita) September 27, 2026
Christian Imga will stay with Athletic Club de Bilbao until 2031
The red and white team has decided to improve the player's salary after his progress over the last few months. The duration of the contract remains unchanged, but its economic conditions have been adapted to the prominence he is gaining within the sports structure.
The change of representative has also proven significant. Imga has recently joined Lian Sports, an agency that works with other Athletic players such as Álex Berenguer and Jesús Areso. The previous relationship between both parties has facilitated the discussions.
The sports management, led by Mikel González, considers the forward a bet for the future. His growth has been rapid since he arrived at Lezama in January 2025, coming from Deportivo Alavés, when he was still competing at the cadet level.
His signing was initially scheduled for the summer of that year, but Athletic expedited the operation after the player rejected renewing with the Vitoria team and was sidelined from his team's lineups.
Edin Terzic has already given opportunities to Christian Imga
The winger has managed to carve out a place in Edin Terzic's plans. He made his official debut in LaLiga on October 25, 2026, against Getafe, entering the field in place of Nico Williams.
Four days later, he scored his first goal with the first team during the Copa del Rey match against AE Prat. He currently has 2 official matches and 1 goal with Athletic, in addition to 5 matches and 1 goal with Bilbao Athletic.
His figures in the lower categories also support his progression. During the 2025/2026 season, he scored 8 goals in 24 matches with the youth team and another 2 goals in 6 matches in the UEFA Youth League.
At 1.90 meters tall, Imga can play on both wings, combining speed with the ability to surpass opponents. These characteristics have allowed Edin Terzic to include him in several lineups despite his age.
The Under-17 World Cup with Spain, his next challenge
The renewal comes before an important international event. Christian Imga has been called up by Spain to compete in the Under-17 World Cup in Qatar, which will take place from November 19 to December 13.
The forward will concentrate with the national team on November 9 and travel to Doha on the 16th. His participation could keep him away from Athletic for up to six matches, depending on the progress of the Spanish team.
The next contractual move is expected in February 2027, when Christian Imga turns 18 years old and his conditions will be reviewed again. Until then, the Athletic Club de Bilbao will maintain its bet on the player, who will have the World Cup as his next opportunity to gain minutes and competitive experience.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El Athletic blinda a su nueva joya ante el interés de los grandes de Europa