Athletic promotes five young talents to first team for 2026/27
The Bilbao club makes official five promotions during their match against Atalanta, elevating Padilla, Rego, Rincón, Gerenabarrena and Canales.
In an unusual move, Athletic Club announced during their fixture against Atalanta in Bergamo the promotion of five players to their first-team squad for the 2026/27 season, according to Mundo Deportivo.
The promoted players are Álex Padilla, Alejandro Rego, Hugo Rincón and Beñat Gerenabarrena, who will receive first-team contracts and squad numbers. Peio Canales—still competing at U23 level—also steps up and will wear a Bilbao Athletic number.
Rewarding loan spells
Padilla and Rego had already trained with the senior squad in the previous campaign, though without squad numbers between 1 and 25. Rincón, Gerenabarrena and Canales spent last season on loan elsewhere, but their performances earned them a place in the Rojiblanca's first team. The announcement, made while the team trailed 1-0 to Atalanta, shows Terzic's faith in the academy.
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