Inigo Martinez will join Athletic after paying €32M termination clause
La Liga

Inigo Martinez will join Athletic after paying €32M termination clause

Inigo Martinez (L) of Real Sociedad runs with the ball during the UEFA Europa League football match Rosenborg BK v Real Sociedad on November 23, 2017 in Rosenborg, Norway. / AFP PHOTO / NTB scanpix AND NTB Scanpix / Ole Martin Wold / Norway OUT

OLE MARTIN WOLD / AFP / Getty

Inigo Martinez is heading for the exit at Real Sociedad.

On Tuesday, Athletic Club announced that Martinez will join Los Leones once his contract expires by virtue of depositing €32 million, the termination clause’s value, at the Liga de Futbol Profesional’s headquarters. The Basque defender will sign a deal valid until June 30, 2023, with the cancellation clause valued at €80 million.

Real Sociedad later announced that Martinez had his contract terminated after matching his release clause at La Liga’s office, thereby ending his relationship with the Txuri-urdinak.

The announcements were made on the same day that Manchester City signed Aymeric Laporte in a transfer worth €65 million.

Martinez, who is a product of Real Sociedad, is swapping one Basque club for another. At a time when football is more globalised than ever, Athetic continues to succeed as a club whose squad is made up entirely of Basque footballers.

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