Aymeric Laporte offered his services to Barcelona following his impressive performances at the World Cup with Spain, but the Catalan club has opted against pursuing the Athletic Bilbao defender. Coach Hansi Flick feels sufficiently equipped in defence and sees no urgency to strengthen that area ahead of the 2026-2027 season.
Barcelona's Defensive Options Already Full
The German manager trusts his current squad depth in the backline. Barcelona can call upon Eric García, Andreas Christensen, and Ronald Araújo, provided the latter remains at the club. Jules Koundé anchors the defence alongside young prospect Álvaro Cortés, while Gerard Martín offers a reliable option at left-back. This abundance of talent means Laporte's arrival would add little value to Flick's tactical setup.
Laporte's career path demonstrates his ability to operate at the highest level. The French-Basque defender played in England's top division before moving to Saudi Arabia, returning to Athletic Bilbao in September 2025 to reignite his career at San Mamés. His World Cup showing with La Roja reinforced his status as a commanding centre-back capable of leading a title-contending defence.
Contract Complications and Athletic Bilbao's History
A critical obstacle lies in the contract structure. Unlike his previous deal at Athletic—which featured a 65 million euro release clause that Manchester City activated in January 2018—Laporte's current terms contain no exit clause. Barcelona would need to enter direct negotiations with Athletic Bilbao, who retain him until 2028.
This requirement proved decisive for the Catalan hierarchy. Barcelona endured protracted negotiations over Nico Williams across consecutive summers, creating institutional reluctance to revisit complex transfer discussions with the Basque club. Athletic's resolute stance on player sales, combined with Barcelona's history of financial constraints, effectively closed the door on Laporte's arrival before serious talks could commence.
With their defensive roster intact and transfer complications mounting, Barcelona's decision to pass on the Spain international reflects pragmatism over sentiment—leaving Laporte to continue his career at Athletic Bilbao.
