Racing de Santander signs player from Athletic Club

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15/08/26 19:30:00

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Julen Agirrezabala, a 25-year-old goalkeeper from Athletic Bilbao, is close to becoming a new player for Racing de Santander for the 2026/27 season. Both clubs have reached a verbal agreement, although they still need to finalize the definitive terms of a deal that could be a transfer or a new loan.

The move would mean the departure of the Bilbao goalkeeper for the second consecutive summer after being on loan at Valencia last season. Agirrezabala's contract runs until June 30, 2027, but Athletic has a unilateral option to extend his contract until 2029.

Julen Agirrezabala close to Racing de Santander again

The discussions have shifted in just a few days. Chema Aragón, Racing's sports director, publicly confirmed that Agirrezabala was the club's top choice for the goal, although he also explained that the initial conditions set by Athletic made the operation unfeasible.

Racing did not definitively abandon the negotiations. According to Matteo Moretto, the parties have resumed talks, and there is already a verbal agreement between the clubs, positioning the goalkeeper to join Santander.

The main pending issue is to determine the structure of the deal. Athletic Bilbao prefers a permanent transfer, while Racing had initially proposed a loan to reduce the immediate cost of the signing.

Among the options being considered is a formula where both clubs could share part of the player's rights. Agirrezabala's contract, entering its final year unless Athletic activates the extension until 2029, requires Ibaigane to decide on his future during this transfer window. Racing is working on building a competitive team, and there were even rumors that they could sign Dani Parejo.

Julen Agirrezabala, close to Racing. Verbal agreement with Athletic. @marca

— Matteo Moretto (@MatteMoretto) August 7, 2026

Racing looking for a goalkeeper for their return to LaLiga

The signing would have an immediate goal for Racing de Santander, who will face the 2026/27 LaLiga EA Sports season after earning direct promotion as Second Division champions. The Cantabrian club will return to Primera after 14 seasons outside the top category.

Agirrezabala also seeks continuity after his loan spell at Valencia. The goalkeeper played 18 LaLiga matches last season, conceded 30 goals, and kept a clean sheet in four games, before injuries limited his playing time.

His previous stint in Bilbao included 65 official matches with the first team before being loaned to Mestalla. Among them, he was part of the 2024 Copa del Rey victory, where he was a starter on Athletic's path to the title.

Athletic's future plans exclude him

His situation during this preseason also hints at a departure. Although training at Lezama, he has not participated in the team's friendly matches while Athletic and Racing negotiate the terms for his future.

The next step will be to finalize the financial and contractual details. If the parties turn the verbal agreement into a concrete deal, Julen Agirrezabala will leave Athletic Bilbao again to join Racing de Santander in LaLiga, this time with the possibility of a permanent move included in the deal.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Racing de Santander pesca en el Athletic