From youth team to first team: Ibai Agirre's meteoric rise at La Real
The 18-year-old midfielder from Mutriku has enjoyed a spectacular 2025, rising from the youth ranks to training with Real Sociedad's first team ahead of the Atlético clash.
Real Sociedad’s latest midfield gem could be set for a first-team debut as Pellegrino Matarazzo looks to address his injury crisis.
Zubieta’s pivot production line strikes again
Blimey, they’re at it again! Real Sociedad’s famed Zubieta academy has produced another promising defensive midfielder in Ibai Agirre, who’s had quite the 2025 to remember. The lad from Mutriku (the same hometown as Asier Illarramendi, would you Adam and Eve it?) has completed a remarkable journey from the youth team to training with the big boys in just 12 months.
With Jon Gorrotxategi unavailable for Sunday’s clash against Atlético Madrid, Matarazzo has called up the 18-year-old Agirre to first-team training, potentially setting up what would be a proper early birthday present for the youngster who turns 19 on January 10th.
The rapid rise of Ibai Agirre
Agirre’s 2025 trajectory has been nothing short of remarkable:
- Started the year with the División de Honor Juvenil (youth team) as expected for a 17-year-old
- Promoted to Real Sociedad’s third team in February (competing in Segunda RFEF)
- Moved up to Real Sociedad B (Sanse) in the summer under Jon Ansotegi
- Made his Sanse debut in November, quickly becoming a regular starter
Wearing the number 31 shirt for Sanse, Agirre has impressed the coaching staff with performances that have belied his tender age. His rapid promotion has also been helped by injury problems affecting Tomy Carbonell, the Barcelona-trained midfielder who’s also developing at the Basque club.
Zubieta’s midfield factory
Agirre is just the latest in an impressive line of pivots produced by La Real in recent years. The Basque club has somehow created a specialist production line of defensive midfielders including:
- Martín Zubimendi
- Beñat Turrientes
- Jon Gorrotxategi
- Urko González de Zárate
- Ander Guevara
- Asier Illarramendi
- Rubén Pardo
With Turrientes currently the only fit senior player in that position, Agirre’s inclusion in Wednesday’s training session (the final one of 2025) alongside fellow Sanse youngsters Kazunari Kita and Lander Astiazaran suggests Matarazzo might be considering the teenager for Sunday’s matchday squad.
If selected, it would cap an extraordinary year for the youngster from Mutriku and potentially signal the arrival of yet another quality midfielder from La Real’s seemingly endless talent factory.