Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta

Key strength: Adaptability

Versatile player

In a season of unexpected struggle that finds Athletic Bilbao precariously anchored in 16th place, Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta has emerged as Ernesto Valverde's tireless midfield anchor. The 32-year-old Basque veteran may carry a modest €2.5 million valuation, but his contribution has been anything but small—featuring in 35 matches and logging over 2,000 minutes of relentless industry. While his stat line reads just 1 goal and 2 assists, Galarreta's true currency lies in his metronomic presence. Operating as the team's creative compass with a 55-rated passing vision, he threads balls to the electric Nico Williams and inventive Oihan Sancet—Bilbao's attacking lifelines in this campaign. Six yellow cards betray the combative edge required to shield his defense, yet it's his intelligence that defines him. As Bilbao navigate a turbulent LWLLD run, Galarreta's experience and distribution remain their most reliable assets. In a squad searching for identity and consistency, this unsung metronome proves that vision, like fine wine, only deepens with age.