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Athletic Bilbao sign Inigo Martinez to replace Aymeric Laporte

Athletic Bilbao have signed Inigo Martinez from Basque rivals Real Sociedad after meeting his €32 million release clause.

The Spain centre-back comes in after Aymeric Laporte joined Manchester City for €65m on Tuesday.

Martinez has agreed a contract until June 2023 with Athletic in a transfer that is bound to provoke controversy in the Basque region.

It is a case of third time lucky for Athletic, who previously failed in efforts to sign Asier Illarramendi and Mikel Oyarzabal from Real.

Martinez, 26, will be presented by Athletic on Tuesday and could make his debut when they face Girona in La Liga on Sunday.