Aymeric Laporte

Aymeric Jean Louis Gerard Alphonse Laporte (born 27 May 1994) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Premier League club Manchester City and the Spain national team.

When he joined Athletic Bilbao in 2010 at the age of 16, he became only the second player born in France—after Bixente Lizarazu—to play for them, going on to make 222 competitive appearances for the club. In January 2018, he signed for Manchester City. He was part of the side which won the first domestic treble in English men's football in 2019.

Born in France, Laporte won 51 caps for the country at youth international levels, and was called up to the senior team twice but remained uncapped. In 2021, after receiving Spanish citizenship and approval from FIFA to switch national teams, Laporte was named in Spain's squad for UEFA Euro 2020.

Club Career

Athletic Bilbao

Laporte arrived in Bilbao formally in 2010, joining Athletic's youth setup at Lezama, prompting debate locally over whether his signing met the criteria of their policy due to his tenuous links to the Basque region. He went on to play for the club's youth and reserve teams. On 28 November 2012 he was given his debut with the main squad by manager Marcelo Bielsa, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–0 away win against Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmon in that season's UEFA Europa League.

Laporte made his first La Liga appearance on 9 December 2012, appearing one minute in a 1–0 home win over Celta Vigo. He was inserted in the starting line-up the following week, helping the Lions to defeat Mallorca by the same scoreline, and was definitely promoted to the first team shortly after, signing a new contract until 2015; on 14 January 2013, he was given the number 4 jersey previously worn by Ustaritz, and late in the month he renewed his contract, running until 2016 and with a €27.5 million release clause.

Laporte became an regular starter under new coach Ernesto Valverde, also being deployed as left-back on occasion

This page also has a version in other languages :  Эмерик Ляпорт (russian)