Aymeric Laporte’s dream return to Athletic Club fell apart over paperwork, but Besiktas are now set to hand him an Al-Nassr escape route.
Besiktas reportedly agree loan deal with Laporte and Al-NassrDefender's transfer to Athletic Club was blocked by FIFA last weekThe Turkish club will pay half of the Spaniard's salaryFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The Spaniard's hopes of leaving Al-Nassr have been revived after Turkish giants Besiktas stepped in with a loan offer. According to , the Black Eagles’ president Serdal Adali has agreed personal terms with the 31-year-old defender and formally offered a proposal to the Saudi Pro League side on Tuesday morning.
Besiktas are ready to pay half of Laporte’s €13 million (£11m/$14m) annual salary, with no loan fee attached. The deal also includes an option to buy in May 2026 for €15m.
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Laporte had been on the verge of sealing a return to Athletic Club for €10m, but the move fell apart at the last moment. Athletic had filed their paperwork with La Liga before the deadline, but Al-Nassr failed to submit the required documents to the Saudi federation in time. Without international clearance, FIFA blocked the transfer, ruling that the centre-back will have to wait until the winter window to get registered.
Laporte's move to Besiktas would be a major blow for Athletic, who are already short in defence. With Unai Egiluz out injured and Yeray Alvarez suspended after a positive doping test, manager Ernesto Valverde has only Dani Vivian and Aitor Paredes available as experienced centre-back options.
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Laporte is no stranger to San Mames, having come through Athletic’s academy before making a move to Manchester City in 2018. In five years in England, he won multiple titles before joining Al-Nassr in 2023. After two seasons in Saudi Arabia alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, he terminated his contract this summer in a bid to return to Spain, only for the move to collapse.
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR AYMERIC LAPORTE AND ATHLETIC CLUB
With his Athletic return blocked, Besiktas are moving quickly to finalise a loan that would give Laporte a fresh start in Turkey. The deal could be completed within 24 hours, handing the 31-year-old an immediate escape route from Al-Nassr. At the same time, the Basque club have not given up entirely. Los Leones have reportedly appealed their case to FIFA, with a ruling expected as early as Thursday, though the chances of a decision in their favour are slim.