BILBAO: Athletic Bilbao will sign Aymeric Laporte following a change of heart by world football governing body FIFA on Feiday.
The Basque club attempted to sign the Spanish defender from Saudi Arabian Al-Nassr on Sept. 1 but the deal was not finalized before the transfer deadline.
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FIFA last week turned down a RFEF appeal to grant an exception for the Laporte transfer, but Athletic confirmed the RFEF application has now been approved after they appealed the ruling.
FIFA U-turn allow Athletic Bilbao to sign Laporte
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Spanish media reported Al-Nassr had not completed the transfer details online into FIFA’s Transfer Matching System.
“Athletic Club wishes to inform that FIFA has allowed the RFEF to procure the International Transfer Certificate (ITC) from the Saudi Arabian football federation,” stated Athletic.
“When the ITC is obtained, Aymeric Laporte can be registered at Athletic Club.”
Laporte, 31, departed Athletic in 2018 to join Manchester City and then joined Al-Nassr in 2023.
