Athletic register Egiluz despite lengthy injury layoff until spring

Athletic Club have made their only expected winter window move by registering young defender Unai Egiluz, though the crocked centre-back won’t be available until the business end of the season.

Egiluz registered with #13 shirt

The Basque outfit have officially added the 23-year-old defender to their squad list, assigning him the number 13 shirt for the remainder of the campaign. However, this administrative move won’t provide any immediate relief to Athletic’s defensive headaches.

Egiluz has been sidelined since pre-season when he suffered a devastating right knee ACL rupture, requiring surgery on August 6th. The recovery timeline remains somewhat fluid - as is typical with cruciate ligament injuries - with his potential return date falling somewhere between March and April.

Rehabilitation progressing well

While his rehabilitation is reportedly on track, ACL recoveries typically range between 6-8 months depending on various factors. The youngster still hasn’t rejoined group training sessions, but if all goes to plan, he could be available for Ernesto Valverde’s selection during the final stretch of the season.

In contrast, teammate Prados, who suffered a similar ACL injury a month later and underwent surgery on September 23rd, has significantly less chance of featuring this term.

Background and contract situation

Egiluz spent last season on loan at Mirandés, making 33 appearances and participating in their promotion playoffs to La Liga. Interestingly, Athletic initially allowed his contract to expire, permitting him to seek opportunities elsewhere.

However, the club’s strategy shifted dramatically following UEFA’s notification that defender Yeray was under investigation for a potential doping violation. This prompted Athletic to not only complete the signing of Aymeric Laporte but also secure Egiluz on a contract running until 2028.