Athletic Club enters 2026/27 with a new head coach but a familiar core. Edin Terzić has replaced Ernesto Valverde and inherited a squad still built around Unai Simón, Aymeric Laporte, Oihan Sancet, Iñaki Williams and Nico Williams. Rather than undertaking a major rebuild, Athletic have promoted from within and brought several returning players into the senior group.
There have been notable departures. Long-serving midfielder Mikel Vesga has joined Almería, while goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala has moved permanently to Racing Santander. Álvaro Djaló is back after his loan spell, while Hugo Rincón and Beñat Gerenabarrena are among the players now carrying first-team status.
That continuity should help Terzić. Athletic do not have European football this season, so the central question is not whether they possess two complete starting XIs. It is whether there is enough quality behind the key starters to handle injuries, rotation, and tactical change without a significant drop.
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Athletic Club’s 2026/27 Squad at a Glance
The main senior options include:
Goalkeepers: Unai Simón, Álex Padilla
Right-back: Jesús Areso, Andoni Gorosabel, Hugo Rincón
Centre-back: Aymeric Laporte, Dani Vivian, Aitor Paredes, Yeray Álvarez, with Unai Egiluz recovering from a long-term knee injury
Left-back: Yuri Berchiche, Adama Boiro
Central midfield: Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta, Mikel Jauregizar, Beñat Prados, Alejandro Rego, Beñat Gerenabarrena, Peio Canales
Attacking midfield: Oihan Sancet, Robert Navarro, Canales
Wide attack: Nico Williams, Iñaki Williams, Álex Berenguer, Álvaro Djaló, Nico Serrano
Centre-forward options: Gorka Guruzeta, Maroan Sannadi, with Iñaki also capable of playing centrally
Athletic can also call on selected Bilbao Athletic players when needed, but their true season-long depth should be judged primarily through players already established around the senior squad.
Goalkeeper Depth
Unai Simón is the clear No. 1. His experience for both Athletic and Spain makes goalkeeper one of the positions where the quality of the starter is unquestioned. The departure of Agirrezabala changes the depth behind him.
Álex Padilla is now the main senior backup, with academy goalkeeper Mikel Santos available when required. That is enough numerically, but there is a clear experience gap between Simón and the alternatives. A short absence should be manageable. A lengthy period without Simón would create considerably more uncertainty.
Depth Assessment: Adequate
Defensive Depth
Central defence is one of Athletic’s strongest areas when everyone is available. Laporte gives Terzić an experienced left-footed defender capable of progressing possession, while Vivian provides aggression, physicality and the ability to defend higher up the pitch.
Paredes and Yeray are credible senior alternatives rather than emergency cover. The immediate concern is availability. Vivian has not yet returned to match action, while Egiluz remains in rehabilitation following knee surgery.
Even with those absences, Terzić was able to start Laporte and Paredes in the 2-0 win at Celta, with Yeray available from the bench. Right-back is particularly well covered through Areso, Gorosabel and Rincón. Areso has started the campaign prominently, while Rincón’s promotion gives Terzić another natural option.
On the left, Yuri remains the established starter with Adama Boiro behind him. The quality drop is more noticeable there than on the right, particularly because Yuri contributes experience both defensively and in buildup.
Depth Assessment: Strong
Midfield Has Numbers but Several Young Options
Vesga’s departure removes experience, but Athletic still possesses significant central-midfield depth. Ruiz de Galarreta remains one of the most reliable players for controlling possession. Jauregizar offers more defensive intensity and has already established himself as an important senior option.
Prados returned from the cruciate ligament injury that ruled him out last season, although a minor thigh problem has temporarily sidelined him again. Behind them, Rego, Gerenabarrena and Canales provide younger alternatives.
Gerenabarrena’s start in the victory at Celta was particularly useful evidence. He played alongside Ruiz de Galarreta and helped Athletic produce an excellent first half despite Terzić making seven changes from the previous starting XI.
That is the encouraging part of Athletic’s depth: the academy options are not merely names added to fill out a squad list. Several are already receiving meaningful senior minutes. The limitation is experience. If Ruiz de Galarreta, Jauregizar and Prados were unavailable simultaneously, Terzić would be relying heavily on young midfielders.
Depth Assessment: Strong, with increasing reliance on youth
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Oihan Sancet Is the Creative Reference Point
Sancet remains the most important central attacking player. He can receive between the lines, carry the ball toward the penalty area, and provide goals from midfield. Robert Navarro and Peio Canales can operate in similar attacking spaces, but neither currently reproduces Sancet’s complete influence.
That makes this a good example of the difference between positional cover and equivalent depth. Terzić has alternatives if Sancet misses a match. What Athletic does not have is another identical No. 10.
Depth Assessment: Adequate to Strong
Wide Attack Is Athletic’s Biggest Strength
Nico Williams remains the outstanding individual threat. His acceleration and one-versus-one ability give Athletic a route to create chances even when the wider attacking structure is struggling. Iñaki Williams adds speed, movement and the ability to play either wide or centrally.
Berenguer is an extremely valuable rotation option because he can contribute from either side and has already started the season productively, scoring in Athletic’s 2-0 victory at Celta. Djaló’s return adds another direct attacking player, while Nico Serrano provides additional left-sided depth.
This is genuine variety rather than simply quantity. Terzić can rest one winger without completely losing Athletic’s ability to attack defenders directly.
Depth Assessment: Very Strong
Centre-Forward Options
Guruzeta remains Athletic’s most natural senior No. 9. Maroan gives Terzić a more physical alternative, while Iñaki can move centrally when greater pace behind the defence is required. That was the approach used at Celta, where Iñaki started through the middle, and Guruzeta entered from the bench.
Athletic therefore have several ways to fill the position. The question is goalscoring consistency. There are credible centre-forward options, but no huge margin for prolonged poor form or multiple injuries.
Depth Assessment: Strong
Where Athletic Are Strongest
The wide attacking positions are the clearest strength. Nico Williams, Iñaki Williams, Berenguer and Djaló give Terzić speed and individual quality that can change matches.
Central defence is also well protected once Vivian returns. Right-back deserves mention as well. Areso, Gorosabel and Rincón give Athletic enough natural depth that Terzić should not need to improvise there.
Where the Squad Is Most Vulnerable
The goalkeeper has the clearest experience drop behind the starter following Agirrezabala’s departure. Left-back is another area where Yuri remains difficult to replace at the same level. Athletic also depends heavily on Sancet for central attacking creativity.
They have players who can occupy his position, but fewer who can consistently produce the same combination of goals, movement and final-third invention. Midfield numbers are good, although an injury cluster would quickly expose how young some of the alternatives are.
Injuries Are Already Testing the Depth
Terzić has not had his complete squad available during the opening weeks. Vivian has required additional recovery work, Prados is managing a minor muscle injury, and Egiluz remains a longer-term absentee.
Athletic have nevertheless been able to rotate substantially. The seven changes made for the 2-0 win at Celta are a useful early indication that Terzić does not need to depend on the same XI every match. The squad should become stronger as Vivian and Prados return.
No European Football Changes the Equation
Athletic competed in the Champions League last season, but there is no UEFA competition on their 2026/27 schedule. That matters enormously when judging squad depth. Terzić can focus primarily on La Liga and the Copa del Rey rather than repeatedly managing three-match weeks across Europe.
Players such as Rego, Gerenabarrena, Canales and Rincón should still receive opportunities, but Athletic do not need to rotate heavily simply to protect starters from an overloaded calendar. For their current workload, the squad is appropriately sized.
Overall Squad Depth Assessment
Overall Assessment: Strong Depth With a Few Important Dependencies
Athletic have a well-balanced senior group supplemented by another promising generation from Lezama. Wide attack is particularly strong, central defence has multiple credible combinations, and the midfield contains enough options for Terzić to rotate.
The weaknesses are specific rather than widespread. Simón, Sancet, Nico Williams and Yuri provide qualities that are difficult to replace directly, while some of the deeper midfield options are still proving themselves at senior level. Without European football stretching the group, those limitations should be easier to manage.
Conclusion
Athletic Club’s 2026/27 squad does not need a major number of additions to be competitive. Edin Terzić has inherited an excellent attacking core led by Nico Williams, Iñaki Williams and Oihan Sancet, while Laporte, Vivian, Paredes and Yeray provide strong centre-back depth.
The biggest development is the growing role of younger players. Gerenabarrena, Rego, Canales and Rincón give Athletic additional options without moving away from the club’s identity. Goalkeeper and left-back carry greater quality drops behind the starters, while Sancet remains particularly difficult to replace creatively.
Overall, Athletic have strong depth for a domestic-only season. Their challenge is less about squad size and more about ensuring the younger alternatives continue turning potential into dependable first-team performances.