Athletic Club Plans Record Spending to Re‑sign Zubimendi, Merino

Athletic Club announced plans to make the largest financial outlay in its history to bring back Martín Zubimendi. The club also intends to sign Mikel Merino as part of the same investment. Both players will return after the Champions League final in Budapest. The repatriation targets are scheduled for the upcoming transfer window. The combined spending will exceed LaLiga’s salary‑cap ceiling. Athletic will therefore have to off‑load existing squad members to comply. The club expects the departures to be negotiated before the window closes. Successful completion would mark a historic spending record for Athletic.