Christian Imga, Lezama’s standout now playing for Bilbao Athletic | OneFootball

Christian Imga has accelerated his rise at Lezama, stepping up to Bilbao Athletic and debuting at the weekend. According to El Correo, the 17-year-old winger was registered with the reserves after Elijah Gift and Aingeru Olabarrieta left on loan to Eibar and Eldense.

The Zumarraga-born teenager made his bow against Real Avilés Industrial on Sunday, playing the final 15 minutes. He did so at 17 years, six months and 20 days, placing him among the youngest debutants in the club’s second team history.

Imga arrived from Deportivo Alavés in January 2025, having been one of their brightest prospects and also tracked by Atlético Madrid. He is the only player born in 2009 with a Bilbao Athletic squad number, while Igor Oyono is the sole 2008-born.

A right-footer who prefers the left flank, he combines imposing size, already over one metre 90, with pace, dribbling and two-footed ability. His profile within the first-team set-up is closest to Nico Williams.

Rule constraints saw him start in the Cadete de Liga Vasca, then he jumped to the Juvenil División de Honor in his first youth year, facing opponents two years older. He scored eight in 24 and added two in six in the UEFA Youth League.

Across the last two years he has featured for Spain under-17 and under-18, shining at this year’s European under-17 finals with three starts from four. Coach Bittor Llopis, who has known him since Alavés, highlighted his major physical transformation and urged patience as he develops.

Source: El Correo

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