Aymeric LaportePlayer·Aymeric Laporte, now a central figure for Athletic BilbaoTeam·Athletic Bilbao, recently shared candid reflections on his departure from Manchester CityTeam·Manchester City, acknowledging a sense of regret regarding his decision to leave what he considers "the best club in the world." In an interview with Spain's AS in May 2026, Laporte highlighted the unique player care at Manchester CityTeam·Manchester City, a quality he fully appreciated only after his departure.
His tenure at Manchester CityTeam·Manchester City, marked by significant success including a treble, also saw a reduction in his playing time during the 2022-23 season. This shift ultimately led to a move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr in the summer of 2023, a spell that proved temporary. By September 2025, an opportunity arose for Laporte to return to Europe, specifically to his former club, Athletic BilbaoTeam·Athletic Bilbao. His transfer back to Athletic BilbaoTeam·Athletic Bilbao involved FIFA intervention due to initial deadline day complications, a situation that Athletic Club reportedly "felt was an injustice." FIFA ultimately approved the transfer, allowing Laporte to rejoin his boyhood club on a three-year contract.
For the 2025/26 season, Laporte has been a consistent presence in Athletic BilbaoTeam·Athletic Bilbao's defence, featuring in 30 matches across all competitions, with 25 appearances in La LigaCompetition·La Liga. While he has not scored any goals, he has provided 1 assist in La LigaCompetition·La Liga during this season. Laporte has received 4 yellow cards and no red cards in his league appearances. His defensive stability rating is noted as 132.7, placing him 25th in the league for this metric, and he wins 62.26% of his ground duels.
Athletic BilbaoTeam·Athletic Bilbao currently occupies 10th place in La LigaCompetition·La Liga, and Laporte's focus remains on propelling the team towards European qualification, targeting a top-six finish. His continued importance is also evident on the international stage, having played the full 90 minutes for the Spain national team in a friendly against SerbiaTeam·Serbia in March, underscoring his enduring value at both club and international levels.
Aymeric Laporte of Spain before a friendly match against Serbia. March 27, 2026. Photo Players Images/IMAGO
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