Chema Aragón lands Julen Agirrezabala as Racing sign Athletic Club goalkeeper | OneFootball

Racing have completed the transfer of Julen Agirrezabala Astúlez from Athletic Club, adding the 2000-born goalkeeper to challenge Simon Eriksson for the starting spot after promotion to Primera División.

As reported by as.com, sporting director Chema Aragón said last Wednesday that Agirrezabala had been their first choice, yet Athletic's terms made the move unviable, so attention shifted to other targets.

Last season Racing signed Plamen Andreev in summer, then Simon Eriksson after Andreev departed in winter. This summer they told Jokin Ezkieta he was not in the plans despite a contract to 2029, then loaned him to Cádiz with an option to buy.

Agirrezabala was not in Edin Terzic's plans at Athletic and has not featured in their pre-season, with Álex Padilla and Mikel Santos playing while Unai Simón is on World Cup leave. He came through Antiguoko and Athletic's academy to the first team.

He kept goal in Athletic's 2024 Copa del Rey win and, in 2021/2022 while with the B team, covered for Unai Simón ahead of Jokin Ezkieta. On loan at Valencia last season, he started the first half but played only once in 2026 after a left-knee meniscus injury in March and surgery. Valencia held a 12 million euros option they did not take up, and his Athletic deal ran until 30 June 2027.

Source: as.com

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”