Bilbao confirms Laporte signing after FIFA U-turn

Athletic Bilbao has confirmed the signing of Spain international defender Aymeric Laporte on a three-year contract until the end of June 2028.

The news comes after the club announced earlier in the day that FIFA had accepted its appeal against the decision to not allow the transfer of the 31-year-old defender from Al-Nassr. The Saudi Arabian club sent the relevant paperwork after the transfer window closed on September 1.

Liverpool's Sadio Mane (R) vies with Manchester City Aymeric Laporte during the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Manchester City and Liverpool in Manchester, Britain, on April 10, 2018. Liverpool won 5-1 on aggregate and advanced to the semifinal. (Xinhua)

Athletic had the support of La Liga and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), both of whom confirmed the club had handed in its paperwork on time, and FIFA has accepted the club's appeal.

Laporte returns to Athletic after progressing through the club's youth system and leaving for Manchester City in 2018 after 222 first team appearances.

He won the Premier League title five times with City, along with the 2022-2023 UEFA Champions League as well as two FA Cup and three League Cup titles, before joining Al-Nassr.

Athletic was negotiating with Al-Nassr throughout the summer, but it appeared the club's attempts to see Laporte's return had been frustrated until FIFA's decision on Thursday.