Unai Egiluz

Key strength: Aerial dominance

Defensive anchor

Athletic Bilbao find themselves in the thick of La Liga's crowded midtable, sitting 10th as they navigate another campaign under their famously restrictive Basque-only recruitment policy. Among the San Mamés defensive ranks, 23-year-old Unai Egiluz represents both the club's proud academy tradition and the fierce competition for places. The Spanish centre-back has made a solitary appearance this season—a full 90-minute display that showcased his qualities as a defensive anchor—but faces a daunting path to regular minutes. With established defenders like Aymeric Laporte and Aitor Paredes commanding starting berths, plus Dani Vivian in the rotation, Egiluz must bide his time in a position where experience typically triumphs over youth. His €600k market valuation, while modest, suggests Athletic retain faith in his potential. The numbers hint at a modern, balanced defender: aerial dominance remains his calling card, with his 55 defending and 55 physicality ratings pointing to a player still refining his craft. As Bilbao's famous red-and-white wall searches for consistency in this tightly-contested midtable battle, Egiluz waits patiently—learning from one of Spain's most storied defensive lineages, ready to seize his moment when injury or rotation creates an opening at one of world football's most unique clubs.