Athletic Bilbao have extended the contract of 31-year-old center-back Yere until 2028, with an option to extend for another year.

Athletic Bilbao announced on Wednesday that they have extended the contract of their center-back Yere Álvarez. The new contract will run from this summer until June 30, 2028, with an option for a further year.

The 31-year-old Yere came through the Athletic Bilbao youth academy and made his first-team debut on September 16, 2016. To date, he has made 260 appearances for Athletic Bilbao, scoring 5 goals and providing 4 assists, winning the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup with the team.

However, Yere was banned for 10 months by UEFA starting in September 2025 after testing positive for doping. He returned to play on April 2nd of this year and subsequently made three La Liga appearances for Athletic Bilbao.

Regarding the contract extension, Athletic Bilbao's sporting director, Mikel González, commented: "Yeré's decision to stay is good news because he has consistently performed well over the long term. He is a physically strong center-back with exceptional focus and a winning mentality. He has also demonstrated remarkable resilience throughout his career, showing the ability to overcome adversity."

Yere himself said: "After being away from the team for ten months, this is very important and exciting news for me. Now I just want to enjoy football and focus on training and matches. My dream is to finish my career at Athletic Bilbao."

Athletic Bilbao currently sits eighth in La Liga with 44 points (13 wins, 5 draws, 16 losses), three points away from the European qualification zone. When discussing their chances of qualifying for European competition, Yere stated, "Our mentality remains the same as before the victories against Alaves and Osasuna. These points have given us some peace of mind and eased the tension we felt on the field. However, our mindset remains focused on winning every match, starting with the game against Valencia. If we can secure two consecutive wins, we'll have a chance to remain at the top of the table."

Yere also expressed his gratitude to those who supported him during his suspension: "My teammates, club staff, family and friends encouraged me day after day, reminding me that I still have the opportunity to play and rediscover the joy of it. As time went by, I gradually regained my fitness and energy, and now I am more motivated than ever to continue training and playing."

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