US
Unai Simón
Goalkeeper / Spain
Goalkeeper
29
Spain
€22.0M
Profile
Key strength: Shot-stopping
Shot-stopper
Athletic Bilbao navigate turbulent waters with a patchy LLWLL form line that tells of a season struggling to find consistency. Yet through the storm stands Unai Simón, the €25 million Basque guardian whose 270 minutes between the posts have offered Ernesto Valverde's side something increasingly rare: reliability. With three appearances and a clean disciplinary record, the 28-year-old shot-stopper embodies the unsung foundation upon which Los Leones must rebuild. While Nico Williams electrifies San Mamés with his 83-rated wizardry up front, Simón provides the commanding presence that allows such attacking bravery to flourish. A product of Athletic's legendary cantera, he represents more than goals prevented—he's living proof that in an era of astronomical transfer fees, elite homegrown talent still thrives. His traditional, no-nonsense shot-stopping style may not dominate highlights reels, but as Athletic fight to climb the table, Simón's steady hands could prove the difference between a season of frustration and one of resurgence. When the Basque faithful need someone to trust, they look to their own.