Official: Yeray Álvarez has signed a two-year contract extension with Athletic Club, keeping him at the club until 2028 with an option for a third year. 
The 31-year-old center-back, who has spent a decade in the first team and was set to become a free agent on June 30, has agreed to the new deal. Álvarez, who has made 259 appearances for the Bilbao side, announced the extension just hours after the club named Edin Terzić as their new head coach.
Álvarez made his debut under Ernesto Valverde in the 2014-15 season and quickly established himself as a regular in the lineup. Seven of his ten seasons with the senior squad have been under Valverde, who recently confirmed he would be leaving the club. The defender has won two trophies during his time at San Mamés: the 2019-20 Supercopa de España and the 2023-24 Copa del Rey.
The renewal reflects the club’s strong faith in a player who has overcome significant personal challenges. Álvarez has battled testicular cancer, including a relapse, and recently served a doping suspension that kept him sidelined for much of the current campaign until early April.
Mikel González, Athletic Club’s director of football, praised the extension, saying: “This ensures performance. He is a dominant center-back in duels, with great concentration and a winning mentality. He has also shown tremendous resilience in overcoming the adversities in his career.”