Agirrezabala turns green and white: Racing already has a guardian for its return to La Liga

Real Racing Club Santander

Some signings are announced with a cold press release, and others are felt. This one is of the second kind. When Racing and Athletic confirmed it at the same time and then, almost simultaneously, on their social media that Julen Agirrezabala was packing his bags for Cantabria, the green-and-white faithful knew this was serious.

It has not been a straightforward road. Just a few days ago, Chema Aragón, the man who pulls the club's sporting strings, put it plainly: the conditions the Athletic was setting made the operation unworkable, he said, without beating around the bush, during the presentation of Yassir Zabiri. And that could have been the end of it all. But football has its ways, and within hours the two sides sat back down, smoothed out their differences, and agreed a transfer that leaves both parties calm: the Athletic keeps a buy-back clause and a percentage of a future sale, while Racing gets a goalkeeper hungry for a starting role.

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Agirrezabala
1.080.000€+250.000€    -

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For years he has been knocking on the door in Bilbao without Unai Simón fully letting him through. He has had his moments of glory — that Copa del Rey in 2024 will not be forgotten — but he needed something that San Mamés could not give him: continuity. Last year he was loaned out to Valencia, he was a starter, he sparked hope, and then a meniscus injury cut his wings at the worst possible time. Now, with 25 years old, it was now or never.

And the Racing offers him exactly that: an exciting project, a goalkeeping spot up for grabs after the departure of Jokin Ezkieta to Cádiz, and a dressing room preparing to live its first season in La Liga after 14 years waiting for this moment. He will compete with Simon Eriksson, yes, but he arrives with credentials: European experience, high-level pressure already overcome, and the hunger of someone who knows this could be his big chance.

Without a doubt, a signing that excites the green-and-white fans and makes it clear that this Racing wants to compete this year.Will he be a starter next matchday?