Five years discovering lionesses

Apart from their hometown, Galdakao, Marta Perea and Jone Ibáñez have something else in common. They both made their official debut as Athletic Club players on the same day, on 25 April 2015 in Paterna against Valencia CF. That was five years ago today. The match ended in victory (0-2) and both midfielders entered the game in the second half. Juan Luis Fuentes knew them already. Marta had arrived at Lezama in 2011 and Jone had done it in 2012, both of them promoted from the youth academy. Wearing the numbers 30 and 32 on their backs, they were brought onto the pitch to replace Lizaso and Eli Ibarra respectively.

From that day onwards, plenty of other players have joined the lionesses, having a chance to make their debuts and settle in the First Division defending Athletic’s colours. More than 60% of the footballers who have made it into the first team came from the youth academy of Lezama.

Let’s have a look at their debuts:

Season 2015-2016

The side was greatly reinforced and promising players from the youth academy made the jump into the first team. Juan Luis Fuentes’ time as a manager had come to an end and Joseba Aguirre had taken up the reins of the team, managing to clinch a longed-for league title.

• Maite Oroz, 06/09/2015, 17 years old, promoted from the academy
• Ainhoa Moraza, 13/09/2015, 20 years old, transferred from Real Sociedad
• Maddi Torre, 11/10/2015, 19 years old, promoted from the academy
• Damaris, 13/12/2015, 16 years old, promoted from the academy
• Leia, 10/01/2016, 17 years old, promoted from the academy

Season 2016-2017

In the campaign in which the lionesses returned to continental competition, the team kept relying on reinforcements coming up from the academy as well as players such as international forward Lucía García, who had been transferred from Oviedo Moderno.

• María Blanco, 3/09/2016, 17 years old, promoted from the academy
• Lucía García, 3/09/2016, 18 years old, transferred from Oviedo Moderno
• Esti Aizpurua, 11/09/2016, 28 years old, transferred from Oiartzun
• Esty, 16/10/2016, 29 years old, transferred from Oiartzun
• Andrea Sierra, 30/10/2016, 18 years old, promoted from the academy
• Leyre Monente, 5/11/2016, 16 years old, promoted from the academy
• Ane Azkona, 5/11/2016, 18 years old, promoted from the academy

Season 2017-2018

Having a settled squad, including very young players who were still gaining experience, only two new faces were brought in this season, the lowest number in the last five years.

• Ane Bergara, 3/09/2017, 30 years old, transferred from FC Barcelona
• María Díaz, 24/09/2017, 22 years old, transferred from Real Sociedad

Season 2018-2019

During Joseba Aguirre’s last season in charge of the red-and-white side, leading footballer Marta Unzué came on loan from FC Barcelona and three promising young players made their debut.

• Marta Unzué, 9/09/2018, 30 years old, on loan from FC Barcelona
• Nerea Nevado, 22/09/2018, 17 years old, promoted from the academy
• Oihane, 5/01/2019, 18 years old, promoted from the academy
• Valdezate; 13/04/2019, 19 years old, promoted from the academy

Season 2019-2020

A new cycle was started with the arrival of Ángel Villacampa. Andrea de la Nava came from Logroño to defend our goal and, once more, our youth academy showed how important its contribution is when the first team needs reliable players.

• De la Nava, 8/09/2019, 25 years old, transferred from EDF Logroño
• Amaiur, 19/10/2019, 18 years old, promoted from the academy
• Oguiza, 19/01/2020, 20 years old, promoted from the academy
• Naroa Uriarte, 22/02/2020, 19 years old, promoted from the academy