Athletic Club won't give up on Aymeric Laporte return as La Liga side ready to appeal to CAS if FIFA reject request while Besiktas push to snap up ex-Man City defender

Athletic Club remain determined to bring Laporte back to San Mames despite FIFA blocking his transfer last week. The Basque side expects a ruling from FIFA’s Dispute Resolution Chamber this week after the deal collapsed due to paperwork issues with Saudi club Al-Nassr. If the verdict goes against them, Athletic are prepared to bring the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

But while Athletic wait for answers, Turkish giants Besiktas have already stepped forward, reportedly reaching an agreement with Laporte and submitting a loan proposal to Al-Nassr. The Saudi giants are reportedly open to the deal, meaning Besiktas could wrap up the move if Athletic’s appeal fails.

Laporte has been left in limbo since FIFA denied his €10m switch back to Athletic at the end of the transfer window. The Spanish club had already agreed terms with the 31-year-old on a three-year deal, but the move was rejected after the Saudi federation failed to upload Al-Nassr’s paperwork on time. Athletic argue that all parties were in agreement and that it is unfair for the player and the buying club to suffer because of an administrative error.

Until FIFA intervenes, though, Laporte technically remains an Al-Nassr player. He still has one year left on his contract in Saudi Arabia, while the agreement with Athletic has been voided. As things stand, the defender cannot be registered in La Liga until at least the winter window. 

FIFA’s transfer rules include a 'validation exception,' which allows a late registration if the delay was caused by another party’s mistake, like missing paperwork. But such appeals are rarely successful. In 2019, Bulgarian club Lokomotiv Plovdiv tried to register Sylvain Deslandes and Jordan Graham after Bulgaria’s transfer deadline, but FIFA’s Players’ Status Committee rejected the request.

Athletic will wait for FIFA’s decision, while Besiktas will also be keeping an eye on the proceedings as they push their loan offer. With the Saudi transfer window now shut, Laporte’s options are running out, and his future now hinges on FIFA and CAS. For now, the Spaniard remains in Bilbao.