MADRID, June 26 (Xinhua) -- La Liga side Athletic Bilbao announced on Thursday that striker Urko Izeta has signed a one-year contract extension until June 2027.
The new deal is a reward for Izeta's exceptional season on loan at second-tier Mirandes, scoring 15 goals as the division's smallest club finished fourth, just missing out on promotion after losing the play-off final to Oviedo.
The 25-year-old had previously impressed in Athletic's B-team, netting 25 goals in 52 appearances, while he also hit the net 17 times in 32 appearances for local side Las Arenas.
The new deal means Izeta will start pre-season with Athletic's first team as the Basque side returns to the Champions League following a fourth-place finish in La Liga last season.
Athletic's close season has so far been dominated by FC Barcelona's attempts to sign the club's Spain international winger Nico Williams for the second consecutive summer.
The Basque club has expressed annoyance at how Barcelona has openly pursued Williams, with Barcelona sporting director Deco saying the winger had asked for a move in an interview with Catalonia's La Vanguardia newspaper.
As a consequence, Athletic has asked both La Liga and the Spanish Football Federation to look at Barcelona's accounts to ensure the club is in a position to pay Williams' buyout clause. ■
