Aymeric Laporte

Athletic Bilbao

Laporte arrived in Bilbao formally in 2010, joining Athletic's youth setup at Lezama, prompting debate locally over whether his signing met the criteria of their policy due to his tenuous links to the Basque region. He went on to play for the club's farm and reserve teams. On 28 November 2012 he was given his debut with the main squad by manager Marcelo Bielsa, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–0 away win against Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona in that season's UEFA Europa League. Laporte made his first La Liga appearance on 9 December 2012, playing one minute in a 1–0 home win over Celta Vigo. He was named in the starting line-up the following week, helping Bilbao to defeat Mallorca by the same scoreline, and was definitely promoted to the first team shortly after, signing a new contract until 2015. On 14 January 2013, he was given the number four shirt previously worn by Ustaritz, and late in the month he renewed his contract, running until 2016 and with a €27.5 million release clause. Laporte became a regular starter under new coach Ernesto Valverde, also being deployed at left-back on occasion. He scored his first goal as a professional on 28 October 2013, netting the game's only goal at Getafe. At the end of 2013–14 league season, he was voted into the La Liga Team of the Year by the reporters of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional. In June 2015, Laporte extended his link until 2019 with a release clause of €50 million. After losing the 2015 Copa del Rey…

France

Laporte represented France at under-17, under-18, under-19 and under-21 levels, captaining each side. He was part of the team that came runners-up to Serbia in the 2013 UEFA European Under-19 Championship in Lithuania, and was selected in the Team of the Tournament. On 24 March 2016, in a 2017 European Under-21 Championship qualifier against Scotland in Angers, Laporte was stretchered off with a fracture and dislocation to his right fibula and ankle, concluding his season prematurely. Previously, in October 2015, he stated that he would consider representing Spain if not selected by France for UEFA Euro 2016. In August 2016, at the behest of new national manager Julen Lopetegui, Laporte began the process of making himself eligible for Spain. A month later, he was called up to the senior France squad by Didier Deschamps for 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Bulgaria and the Netherlands in October, and stated he had decided not to apply for Spanish nationality with the continued aim of playing for France. He did not take part in either match. In August 2019, he was called up for France's UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying fixtures against Albania and Andorra. However, two days later he was injured playing for his club and ruled out of any involvement.

Spain

In May 2021, the Spanish Council of Ministers granted Spanish nationality to Laporte following a process initiated on his behalf by the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF); it was later reported that a…

Laporte usually plays as a left-sided centre-back. Spanish football journalist Guillem Balagué described Laporte as a "centre-back who can play from the back and is strong", adding that "he is certainly a powerful defender". He is also known for his passing ability.

Aymeric Jean Louis Gérard Alphonse Laporte was born on 27 May 1994 in Agen, Lot-et-Garonne, France, and is of Spanish (Basque) descent through his great-grandparents. He started playing football and rugby at the age of five, and began his development at Agen's football academy. In 2009, he was invited to join Athletic Bilbao after being scouted. By arrangement with the club, he spent a season with Bayonne as he was legally too young to play football in another country at the time.