Leire Baños joins Athletic Club

Athletic Club have signed Leire Baños from Levante UD, with the midfielder penning a contract to wear red and white until 30 June 2027.

The 27-year-old has 300 appearances in the top-flight between spells at Real Sociedad and Levante. She comes to Athletic after a three-season stint at the latter, where she also played Champions League football.

After signing terms alongside Athletic Club president Jon Uriarte and director of women's football Xabi Arrieta, Baños admitted she is "happy and excited" to be joining Athletic.

She said: "Athletic are a historic team with a philosophy that no other team has and that's also very valuable. The fact that they work so diligently with the youth system is paying off and we are seeing that now with the young players.

"I already knew a lot of my teammates here, they've spoken very highly of the club and I had no hesitation in signing. If we all work and improve together, we're sure we'll achieve some great things."

The midfielder came up through the ranks at Irun Artia and Oiartzun KE. She went to Real Sociedad in 2013/14, making her first-team debut at 16 years of age, at Lezama coincidentally, joining Itxaso Uriarte in the starting line-up.

Leire spent eight season at Real Sociedad and was part of the side that won the 2019 Copa against Atlético Madrid at Los Cármenes. She moved to Levante in 2021, making her debut for the Valencia outfit in the Champions League.