MADRID, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Athletic Bilbao has agreed a three-year contract extension with central defender Unai Egiluz.
The 23-year-old has signed a new contract until the end of June 2028 after impressing last season on loan with second-division Mirandes, where he played over 2,300 minutes first-team football.
The new contract means he will form part of Athletic's first-team squad, as the players return to training on Wednesday to prepare for the club's return to the UEFA Champions League after finishing fourth in La Liga last season.
Egiluz joins striker Urko Izeta and right-back Hugo Rincon in the squad, with Izeta also penning a new deal after impressing at Mirandes, scoring 15 goals as the club just missed out on promotion to the elite, while Rincon was almost ever-present on the right of the Mirandes defense.
All three will be looking to impress Athletic coach Ernesto Valverde, although Egiluz's long-term place could depend on whether the club is able to complete a deal to sign Spain defender Aymeric Laporte from Al-Nassr.
Laporte is apparently keen to return to Athletic after two years in Saudi Arabia, viewing the move as a chance to book a place in the Spain squad for next summer's FIFA World Cup.
After assuring the future of international winger Nico Williams last week, Athletic is also keen on Osasuna right-back Jesus Areso. ■