Athletic Bilbao to challenge FIFA after Aymeric Laporte left in limbo due to Al-Nassr paperwork delay

Athletic Club’s bid to re-sign Aymeric Laporte was blocked by FIFA over late paperwork from Al-Nassr, despite all parties agreeing terms. The club plans to appeal to CAS, while Besiktas eyes a loan move. Laporte, under contract until 2026, remains unregistered in La Liga and in limbo, despite a decorated stint at Manchester City with 13 major trophies.

FIFA blocked Aymeric Laporte’s €10m return to Athletic Bilbao after Al-Nassr failed to submit transfer documents before the deadline/ Image:X

The Basque club is not backing down after FIFA halted Aymeric Laporte’s transfer, and are prepared to escalate the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Meanwhile, Turkish side Besiktas are lining up a move for the Spanish defender as the saga intensifies.

A homecoming denied, for now

Athletic Club’s plan to bring Aymeric Laporte back to San Mamés has hit a wall. FIFA has rejected the €10 million transfer from Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr due to late paperwork, leaving the 31-year-old defender in limbo. Despite finalizing personal terms on a three-year deal and submitting their side of the documentation on time, Athletic saw the move blocked after the Saudi Arabian Football Federation failed to upload Al-Nassr’s transfer documents before the deadline due to factors 'out of their control'. The Spanish club, who consider Laporte a foundational piece for both sporting and symbolic reasons, now await a ruling from FIFA’s Dispute Resolution Chamber. If the decision doesn’t go their way, they’re already prepared to escalate the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in hopes of reversing the outcome.

Timeline of the breakdown

The transfer collapsed during the final hours of the window, not because of negotiation failure, but due to what Athletic argue was a purely administrative error. Laporte had made it clear he wanted to return to Bilbao, rejecting other offers and agreeing to a three-year contract. Athletic were ready to pay a €10 million fee, and even offered a signing-on package to help settle his exit from Al-Nassr. However, the Saudi club denied Laporte’s request for a contract termination and failed to submit their paperwork on time. As a result, FIFA ruled that the player could not be registered until the next window opens in January. Athletic, pointing to the fact that all sides were in agreement, argue that it’s unfair to penalize both the player and buying club for a mistake made elsewhere. Under FIFA’s own rules, there is room for a 'validation exception', a clause that permits late registration if delays are caused by another party’s error. However, these appeals rarely succeed.

Besiktas enter the frame

While Athletic fight for Laporte’s reinstatement, Turkish club Besiktas have moved swiftly. They are reportedly in direct talks with the player and have already submitted a loan offer to Al-Nassr. According to Goal.com, the Saudi club may be open to this alternative deal, especially now that their own window has closed and options for Laporte are limited. If Athletic’s appeal fails and FIFA refuses to budge, Besiktas could swoop in and finalize the loan, effectively ending any hope of a reunion between Laporte and the club where he rose to prominence.

What’s at stake

For Athletic, this situation is more than a transfer gone wrong. Laporte, a product of their academy, was seen not just as a defensive upgrade, but as a key figure in their Champions League ambitions. The club had made his return a priority throughout the summer, only to be left without a marquee signing and with their plans upended. For Laporte, the rejection deepens what has already been a frustrating period. The 29-year-old joined Manchester City from Athletic in January 2018 for what was then a club-record £57 million. Over five and a half seasons in England, he helped City lift 13 major honours, including five Premier League titles, and played a part in last season’s historic treble. However, his role had diminished; he made just 24 appearances across all competitions in that final campaign. In the summer of 2023, he moved to Al-Nassr in a £23.6 million deal. But the switch to Saudi Arabia has failed to reignite his career. Laporte has struggled for regular minutes and has been actively seeking a way back to top-level European football. Despite turning down more lucrative offers elsewhere, he pushed for a return to San Mamés and agreed to a three-year deal. His efforts were ultimately undone by a paperwork delay out of his control. Until FIFA reconsiders, the Spanish international remains under contract with Al-Nassr, which runs until June 30, 2026. Though he is currently in Bilbao, he cannot be registered in La Liga until at least January unless the appeal succeeds.

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