MADRID, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Athletic Club Bilbao on Thursday announced that central defender Aitor Paredes has signed a new contract that will keep him at the club until the end of June 2029.

The new contract is reward for the 23-year-old's excellent season which has seen him become a key member of the side that will play Mallorca in the Copa del Rey final on April 6th and who is currently fourth in La Liga.

"It is very positive news that we can continue to count on the presence of a young player from Bizkaia, who is playing at a very high level in a difficult context," commented Athletic's Sporting Director, Mikel Gonzalez.

Paredes was fourth choice central defender for Athletic Club last season, but the player who joined the club's youth system as a 10-year-old was thrust into the side at the start of this season after Inigo Martinez joined Barcelona and Yeray Alvarez needed a groin operation.

This season has seen him play 26 out of 29 games in La Liga and make five appearances in Athletic's successful cup run. The player with seven appearances for Spain's Under-21 team was also included in the pre-list for Spain's forthcoming friendlies against Colombia and Brazil.

"He is an example because he came to Lezama (Athletic's training center) at the first possible again and he has continued to progress until reaching the first team. It is an honor for the professionals who have worked with him for all these years."

"Aitor is a 100 percent Athletic Club defender and he is the sort of player we want. Strong, aggressive and with a great capacity to defend in an advanced role, he is also able to start moves and he can also play on the left," highlighted Gonzalez. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)