Athletic Bilbao midfielder Gomez seals move to Udinese

Athletic Bilbao confirmed on Wednesday that midfielder Unai Gomez has joined Italian club Udinese, ending his 12-year association with the club.

Gomez, 23, has signed a contract until the end of June 2031, with Udinese paying Athletic Bilbao around 4.5 million euros (5.1 million U.S. dollars), plus a further 1.5 million euros in variables. The Spanish side will also receive a percentage of any future transfer fee.

Born in the town of Bermeo, near Bilbao, Gomez progressed through Athletic Bilbao's youth system before making his first-team debut against Real Madrid in the opening game of the 2023-2024 La Liga season.

He made 117 first-team appearances and scored six goals, although he perhaps suffered from being used in several different roles, from central midfield to the left wing and even as a makeshift striker at times last season.

The return of Peio Canales and Benat Gerenabarrena from successful loan spells, along with Benat Prados' recovery from a serious knee injury, meant Gomez would have struggled for playing time this season, and new coach Edin Terzic preferred to allow him to leave.

He will play alongside former teammate Oier Zarraga at Udinese after Zarraga moved to Italy three years ago.

Young midfielder Eder Garcia has also left the club on a season-long loan to second-division Cordoba.