Agirrezabala seals Athletic exit with anti-Real Sociedad clause

Julen Agirrezabala is now officially Racing Santander's goalkeeper after the permanent transfer from Athletic Club was completed. The Bilbao academy product, who spent last season on loan at Valencia, begins a new chapter away from San Mamés on a long-term contract.

Beyond the sporting operation itself, the fine print of the contract holds a strategically relevant detail: Athletic has reserved a priority right of first refusal explicitly written to prevent Agirrezabala from ever reaching Real Sociedad. In this way, Ibaigane shuts the door on Anoeta categorically, protecting one of its best academy prospects against the rival club.

The move represents a defensive maneuver by the Bilbao board, seeking to shield itself from future offers by the txuri-urdin outfit. The recent precedent of Álex Remiro—another Lezama goalkeeper who eventually became a cornerstone of Real Sociedad's project—explains this caution. Agirrezabala seeks in Santander the playing time denied him by competition with Unai Simón at Athletic.