Key Takeaways:
- FIFA rejected Aymeric Laporte’s transfer to Athletic Club after Al-Nassr submitted paperwork late
- The Spanish international agreed to rejoin Athletic Club for €10m, but cannot be registered until January
- Athletic Club had prepared Laporte as a key part of their Champions League plans this season
Transfer Blocked by Missed Deadline
Aymeric Laporte’s anticipated homecoming to Athletic Club has been halted after FIFA ruled the transfer invalid due to late documentation from Al-Nassr. The governing body’s decision followed a failed submission by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, preventing the 31-year-old from rejoining Athletic Club despite agreed personal terms and a €10m transfer fee.
🚨 The story is DONE.. Athletic Bilbao will NOT be able to register Aymeric Laporte ❌
FIFA will notify them in the coming hours — Al-Nassr didn’t send the documents on time, per @partidazocope pic.twitter.com/HzPzcNfNDw
— All About SPL 🔔 🇸🇦 (@Saudifutbol) September 2, 2025
Breakdown of the Failed Transfer
The centre-back, who had already settled contract terms on a three-year deal, had been identified by Athletic as the centrepiece of their defensive line for the upcoming Champions League season. Although Athletic complied with La Liga’s registration deadlines, the lack of timely international clearance from Al-Nassr led FIFA to block the move. According to SportingPedia sources, Laporte’s €10m switch collapsed because Al-Nassr did not file the necessary transfer paperwork before the window closed.
Athletic had put together a signing-on package worth €10m, determined to bring back their homegrown talent. Laporte turned down numerous other proposals during the summer, focusing on a return to Bilbao even as Al-Nassr resisted his request for a free or contract-terminated exit.
| Player | From | To | Proposed Fee | Status | Reason for Block |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aymeric Laporte | Al-Nassr | Athletic Club | €10m | Rejected | Late paperwork by Al-Nassr |
Implications for Club and Player
With FIFA unwilling to grant an exemption, Laporte must await the opening of the winter transfer window in January to complete the move. This delay is a significant setback for Athletic, both strategically and emotionally, as Laporte’s leadership was intended to anchor Ernesto Valverde’s defence during a crucial Champions League campaign. The Basque club are reportedly weighing a legal challenge through the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), but history shows that overturning such decisions is exceptionally rare.
Context and Precedent
The situation bears a striking resemblance to the failed transfer of David de Gea from Manchester United to Real Madrid in 2015, where missed deadlines equally scuppered the deal. For Laporte, whose stint at Al-Nassr has been marked by frustration, the collapse of his Bilbao return is the latest in a series of professional disappointments.
Next Steps for Athletic Club
Athletic now face the decision of whether to contest FIFA’s ruling at CAS, or to accept the verdict and plan for Laporte’s arrival in January. In the meantime, the absence of their targeted defensive lynchpin forces the club to reassess their short-term squad strategy as they embark on a challenging European campaign.
