Asier Illarramendi

Real Sociedad

A product of local Real Sociedad's youth system, Illarramendi was born in Mutriku, Gipuzkoa, and he spent the vast majority of his first four senior seasons with the B team, contributing 27 games and two goals in 2009–10 as the Basques returned to Segunda División B after one year out. On 19 June 2010, in the last day of the Segunda División campaign, as the first team had already sealed promotion to La Liga as champions, he made his first official appearance, in a 4–1 away loss against Elche CF. On 23 January 2011, Illarramendi made his top-division debut, in a 2–1 defeat at Villarreal CF. The following month, he first appeared as a starter and played the full 90 minutes in another away loss (4–1 to RCD Espanyol); the bulk of the season was spent, however, with the reserves in the third tier. Illarramendi started in all of his 32 league appearances in 2012–13, as Real Sociedad finished fourth and qualified for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in ten years. At the LFP Awards, he was named Breakthrough Player and Best Midfielder.

Real Madrid

On 12 July 2013, Illarramendi signed a six-year contract with Real Madrid for a fee of €32.2 million, the highest amount paid by the club for a Spanish player. He made his official debut on 14 September by starting in a 2–2 away draw against Villarreal, and scored his first goal on 18 December in a 2–0 home win over CD Olímpic de Xàtiva in the round of 32 of the Copa del Rey (also the aggregate…

Illarramendi helped Spain to reach the final of the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup, featuring in all games but one. He missed one of the penalties in the final shootout, which allowed Nigeria to lift the trophy. Illarramendi played 16 times for the under-21s in two years. He represented them at the 2013 UEFA European Championship in Israel, being first choice as the nation won the competition and being selected in the team of the tournament. Manager Julen Lopetegui first called up Illarramendi for the senior side in March 2017, ahead of a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Israel and a friendly with France. Additionally, he played for the Basque XI from 2013 onwards, opening a 3–1 win over FIFA member Tunisia at the San Mamés Stadium on 30 December 2016. Illarramendi made his debut for Spain on 7 June 2017, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–2 friendly draw with Colombia in Murcia. He scored his first goal on 9 October that year, netting the game's only in Israel for the World Cup qualifying campaign.

Club

As of match played 19 October 2024

International

Scores and results list Spain's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Illarramendi goal.

Real Sociedad

Copa del Rey: 2019–20 Segunda División: 2009–10 Real Madrid

Copa del Rey: 2013–14 UEFA Champions League: 2013–14 UEFA Super Cup: 2014 FIFA Club World Cup: 2014 Kitchee

Hong Kong Premier League: 2025–26 Spain U21

UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 2013 Individual

La Liga Awards: Breakthrough Player/Best Midfielder 2012–13 Hong Kong Footballer of the Year: 2025–26