Unai Simón

Simón made his debut as a senior with Basconia, Athletic's farm team, in the 2014–15 season, in the Tercera División. On 8 June 2016, he was promoted to the reserves, recently relegated to the Segunda División B. He immediately became a starter for the side, contributing with 29 appearances during the campaign. On 2 June 2017, he was called up to the main squad for the pre-season by new first team manager José Ángel Ziganda, but continued to appear exclusively for the B-team. On 13 July 2018, he signed a contract extension until 2023, and was loaned to Segunda División side Elche two weeks later. On 15 August 2018, after Kepa Arrizabalaga's departure from the club and Iago Herrerín's injury, Simón was recalled by Athletic before he had played a match for Elche. He initially appeared to be behind the older Álex Remiro in the queue for selection, but made his professional – and La Liga – debut five days later, starting in a 2–1 home win against Leganés. In just his third appearance in the top division, Simón played in a 1–1 draw with Real Madrid where he made several key saves and was named player of the match. However, when Herrerín regained full fitness in October 2018 he was made the starting goalkeeper, with Simón's only appearances over the subsequent four months coming in the Copa del Rey. For the 2019–20 season, Simón was given the No. 1 squad number and began the campaign as first choice, keeping a clean sheet in an opening day win over Barcelona. He continued his…

Youth

Simón was selected for Spain at under-19 and under-21 levels. He was a member of the squad that won the 2015 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, albeit as the backup goalkeeper to Antonio Sivera during the tournament. In the same year he was in the Basque Country under-18 team that won the Spanish regional championship. On 1 September 2017, Simón debuted with the under-21 team against Italy. He was selected for the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, playing the first game of the group stage as Spain once more finished as champions (Sivera was again first-choice).

Senior

Simón received his first call-up to Spain senior team on 20 August 2020, for the 2020–21 UEFA Nations League matches against Germany and Ukraine. Despite having made an error which led to a goal at club level a few days earlier, he debuted in a friendly match against the Netherlands on 11 November, playing the entire match. On 24 May 2021, Simón was included in Luis Enrique's 24-man squad for UEFA Euro 2020. Having displaced David de Gea as first-choice, he started all of the team's matches, and caused an own goal in the 5–3 round of 16 victory against Croatia when he was unable to control a long backwards pass by Pedri. Luis Enrique praised his mentality for having recovered from that mistake. He eventually saved two penalties as Spain won the shootout against Switzerland in the quarter-finals after a 1–1 draw, for which he was also awarded the Star of the Match. The…

Simón is mainly known for his strong positioning, distribution, and anticipation as a goalkeeper. Being quick off his line and comfortable with the ball at his feet, he often acts as a sweeper keeper. He is also effective at stopping penalties. His Spain national team manager Luis de la Fuente has described him as "one of the best goalkeepers in the world."

Simón's father, a member of the Guardia Civil from the Province of Zamora, was assigned to a security posting in the Basque Country where he met Unai's mother, a member of the Ertzaintza (the local police force); their son was born in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Álava, Basque Country, and raised in the nearby village of Murgia. He joined Athletic Bilbao's youth system in 2011 from Aurrerá Vitoria, lodging with a family in the Bilbao area.