Athletic Club debuts in 2023/24

Six players made their senior debuts for Athletic Club during the 2023/24 campaign. As a club that prides itself on developing footballers in our academy, the moment a Cub becomes a Lion is always a special moment at Athletic.

The first to make their debuts were Unai Gómez and Imanol García de Albeniz, with both players getting game time during our LaLiga EA Sports opener against Real Madrid at San Mames on 12 August 2023.

Unai was named in the starting XI, while left-back Imanol replaced Iñigo Lekue with just over 20 minutes to go.

A week later, Beñat Prados got his first appearance in his hometown of Pamplona during our LaLiga Matchday 2 clash with CA Osasuna. Although predominantly a central midfielder, Prados played at right-back after coming on for Imanol.

Thanks to his versatility and tenacity, Beñat established himself as a regular starter under Valverde, playing a total of 1450 minutes in his breakthrough season.

Central defender Unai Egiluz made his debut in the Copa first-round fixture against UE Rubí on 1 November 2023. Egiluz was a sturdy presence at the back along with Peru Nolaskoain. The match was the first step in a wonderful journey that end with Iker Muniain and Óscar de Marcos lifting Athletic Club's 25th Copa del Rey.

Bermeo native Mikel Jauregizar also got his first senior minutes in the Copa, coming on as a substitute in our Copa second-round clash with CD Cayón at Racing Santander's El Sardinero.

It had been decades since a footballer from the coastal town of Bermeo turned out for Athletic, but that night it was fellow Bermeotarra Unai Gómez who came off for his friend Mikel.

Jauregizar was at the heart of a key moment in Athletic's Copa adventure. During the quarter-final against FC Barcelona, he stole possession from Sergi Roberto in extra-time and set up Iñaki Williams to make it 3-2 just before the extra-time break.

Our final debutant, Aingeru Olabarrieta, made his senior debut in our final home match of the season. Playing the final 10 minutes of the fixture, the skilfull winger almost found the back of the net as San Mames bid farewell to club legends Iker Muniain and Raúl Garcia - both of whom scored - and celebrated new captain Oscar de Marcos' contract extension.