Gerenabarrena drives Castellón push for a return to Primera | OneFootball

Beñat Gerenabarrena is still playing while much of Athletic’s squad are on holiday, driving Castellón’s pursuit of promotion.

According to El Correo, the 23-year-old midfielder, on loan from Athletic, is integral to Pablo Hernández’s plan in Segunda as the Orelluts chase a top-flight return after more than three decades. Castellón drew 1-1 with Almería in the play-off first leg and travel for the return on Tuesday.

He joined Lezama in 2014 aged 11 from Aurrera de Ondarroa, rose through the ranks and played 105 times for Bilbao Athletic. He has trained with the first team under Ernesto Valverde, featuring in friendlies against Udinese in 2022 and Burgos in 2024, but is yet to debut competitively.

This season he has 38 appearances, 30 starts and between 2,708 and 2,738 minutes, starting 88.4% of games. He has scored against Huesca and Andorra and provided an assist versus Valladolid. He also filled in at right-back against Almería, the third time he has covered there.

Gerenabarrena prefers to operate in midfield yet is content to help at full-back when required, saying recently that he enjoys either role if it benefits the team.

He is contracted until 2027 and will come under Edin Terzic’s gaze after the play-offs, with any decision on his future to follow. He says he is focused on winning promotion. Tuesday could end their season or keep it alive with a tie against Las Palmas or Málaga. Among Athletic’s nine loanees, he has featured the most.

Source: El Correo