Athletic’s Zubieta signings over 30 years valued at 63 million | OneFootball

According to AS, Athletic have recruited from Real Sociedad’s Zubieta across the past 30 years, signing eight players whose updated fees total 63 million, with the clubs meeting in the Copa semi-finals at San Mamés on Wednesday.

The pattern began when Joseba Etxeberria, then 17, left in 1995-96 after his 500 million pesetas clause, worth 3 million euros, was paid. Using Betfair’s ‘La Calculadora’, that would equate to exactly 6.959 million euros today.

Athletic’s paid deals also include Iñigo Martínez’s move at age 26 for 32 million, after receiving 70 million from Manchester City for Laporte. Payments were also made for Zubiaurre and Xabi Castillo, while Elustondo, De Cerio, Gabilondo and Imaz arrived for free.

In the opposite direction, Real Sociedad have taken three players from Athletic in the same span, all on free transfers. They were Alkiza in 2003, Remiro in 2019 and the most recent, Mikel Goti, now on loan at Córdoba.

Real Sociedad are the second most common source of Athletic signings in that period with eight, behind Osasuna on 10 and level with Eibar and Alavés. Since 1995-96, Real’s principal origin club for arrivals has been Real Madrid, tied with Eibar and ahead of Arsenal, Manchester City and Mallorca.

Source: AS