Julen Agirrezabala

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Agirrezabala and the second or maternal family name is Astúlez.

Julen Agirrezabala
Personal information
Full name Julen Agirrezabala Astúlez[1]
Date of birth (2000-12-26) 26 December 2000[2]
Place of birth Errenteria, Spain
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Position Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Valencia
(on loan from Athletic Bilbao)
Number 25
Youth career
2011–2014 Touring
2014–2018 Antiguoko
2018–2019 Athletic Bilbao
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2020 Basconia 19 (0)
2020–2022 Athletic Bilbao B 41 (0)
2021– Athletic Bilbao 30 (0)
2025– → Valencia (loan) 18 (0)
International career‡
2021–2023 Spain U21 8 (0)
2024– Basque Country 1 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Spain
UEFA European Under-21 Championship
Runner-up 2023 Georgia–Romania
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 15:22, 10 March 2026 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 1 April 2024

Julen Agirrezabala Astúlez (born 26 December 2000) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for La Liga club Valencia CF, on loan from Athletic Bilbao.

Club career

Athletic Bilbao

Youth

Born in Errenteria, Gipuzkoa, Basque Country, Agirrezabala joined Athletic Bilbao's academy in 2018 after spells at CD Touring and Antiguoko.[3][4] He made his senior debut with the farm team during the 2019–20 season, in the Tercera División.[5]

On his first appearance for the reserves on 1 November 2020, Agirrezabala saved a penalty kick in a 3–2 Segunda División B away win against Club Portugalete.[6] The following March, he renewed his contract until 2025.[7]

First team

Agirrezabala was called by manager Marcelino García Toral for the first team's pre-season in June 2021.[8] He made his first-team – and La Liga – debut on 16 August, starting in a 0–0 draw at Elche CF.[9][10] He spent most of that campaign with the B side, but was selected in the Copa del Rey in preference to Jokin Ezkieta (first-choice Unai Simón stepping aside) and took part in victories over FC Barcelona and Real Madrid before the run was ended at the semi-finals by Valencia CF;[11] Ezkieta eventually left the San Mamés Stadium, and he became the main understudy to Simón in the league.[4]

Agirrezabala was again used in the cup in 2022–23 as Athletic advanced to the last-four stage four once more,[12] this time being eliminated by CA Osasuna.[13] He then played every minute of their run in the following edition of the tournament,[14] keeping four clean sheets including in both legs of the semi-finals against Atlético Madrid; in the final against RCD Mallorca, his solid performance was capped by saving Manu Morlanes's effort in the penalty shootout as the club claimed the trophy for the first time in 40 years.[15]

On 11 July 2025, Agirrezabala joined Valencia on loan for the season, with a non-binding purchase option at the end of the move.[16][17] During his tenure, he faced competition from Stole Dimitrievski until being sidelined with a knee injury in March 2026;[18][19] the previous November, the Macedonian had voiced his displeasure over what he felt was preferential treatment of the Spaniard due to contractual reasons.[20]

International career

In August 2021, Agirrezabala was called up to the Spain under-21 squad for two 2023 UEFA European Championship qualifying matches,[21] making his debut on 8 October in a 3–2 defeat of Slovakia at La Cartuja.[22] He was called up for the finals held in Georgia and Romania,[23][24] backing up Arnau Tenas in the competition but taking the field in the third group-stage match against Ukraine; fellow goalkeeper Leo Román played the last 45 minutes of the 2–2 draw.[25]

Agirrezabala also earned caps for the unofficial Basque Country side.[26]

Career statistics

As of match played 3 January 2026
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[27][28][29]
Club Season League Copa del Rey Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Basconia 2019–20 Tercera Federación 19 0 — — — 19 0
Athletic Bilbao B 2019–20 Segunda División B 0 0 — — — 0 0
2020–21 Segunda División B 14 0 — — — 14 0
2021–22 Primera Federación 27 0 — — — 27 0
Total 41 0 — — — 41 0
Athletic Bilbao 2021–22 La Liga 4 0 5 0 — 0 0 9 0
2022–23 La Liga 8 0 7 0 — — 15 0
2023–24 La Liga 4 0 8 0 — — 12 0
2024–25 La Liga 14 0 2 0 13[a] 0 — 29 0
Total 30 0 22 0 13 0 — 65 0
Valencia (loan) 2025–26 La Liga 18 0 1 0 — — 19 0
Career total 108 0 23 0 13 0 0 0 144 0
  1. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League

Honours

Athletic Bilbao

Spain U21

References

  1. ^ Campos Dubón, Pedro M. (12 June 2025). "Julen Agirrezabala, el hombre de hielo que se hizo portero en la playa de Peñíscola" [Julen Agirrezabala, the iceman who became a goalkeeper in the Peñíscola beach]. Las Provincias (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 March 2026.
  2. ^ a b "Julen Agirrezabala". Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 March 2026.
  3. ^ Artazu, M. (22 March 2018). "El Athletic ficha a otros dos jugadores del Antiguoko" [Athletic sign another two players from Antiguoko]. El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  4. ^ a b Castaño, Iker (27 September 2022). ""Mis padres me inculcaron que, pase lo que pase, hay que seguir siendo humilde"" ["My parents instilled in me that, no matter what happens, you have to remain humble"]. El Diario Vasco (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  5. ^ Río, Endika (24 July 2019). "Al Basconia le espera una Tercera de órdago para curtirse" [Basconia have explosive Tercera in store to hone their skills]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 March 2026.
  6. ^ Beltrán, Javier (2 November 2020). "Agirrezabala puja fuerte en la portería del Bilbao Athletic" [Agirrezabala bidding strong for Bilbao Athletic's goal]. El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  7. ^ "Renovación de Julen Agirrezabala hasta 2025" [Renewal of Julen Agirrezabala until 2025] (in Spanish). Athletic Bilbao. 15 March 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  8. ^ "Five youngsters to do pre-season with senior squad". Athletic Bilbao. 14 June 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  9. ^ García, Óscar (16 August 2021). "Un punto con sabores bien distintos" [A point with very different flavours]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  10. ^ "Julen Agirrezabala: the fourth youngest Athletic goalkeeper in the last 50 years". Athletic Bilbao. 17 August 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  11. ^ Lowe, Sid (4 June 2022). "It's the Sids 2022! The complete review of La Liga's 2021–22 season". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  12. ^ Martín, Asís (21 February 2023). "Julen Agirrezabala, apuesta solvente para la Copa y competencia real para Unai Simón" [Julen Agirrezabala, solid bet for the Cup and real competition for Unai Simón] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
  13. ^ Rios, Janina Nuno; Fallon, Clare; Davis, Toby (4 April 2023). "Ibanez goal sends Osasuna into Copa del Rey final after dramatic draw". Reuters. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  14. ^ Rivas, Jon (5 April 2024). "Julen Agirrezabala y 10 más del Athletic en la final de Copa" [Julen Agirrezabala and 10 Athletic guys more in the Cup final]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 March 2026.
  15. ^ a b Reinoso del Real, Mario (7 April 2024). "Athletic 1–1 (4–2) Mallorca, en directo: final de Copa del Rey 2024 | Celebración del Athletic, campeón de Copa" [Athletic 1–1 (4–2) Mallorca, live: 2024 King's Cup final | Celebrations of Athletic, Cup champions]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  16. ^ "Comunicado oficial | Julen Agirrezabala" [Official announcement | Julen Agirrezabala] (in Spanish). Valencia CF. 11 July 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  17. ^ "Cesión de Julen Agirrezabala al Valencia CF" [Julen Agirrezabala loan to Valencia CF] (in Spanish). Athletic Bilbao. 11 July 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  18. ^ Picó, Diego (5 March 2026). "Agirrezabala pasa por el quirófano y su opción de compra se esfuma" [Agirrezabala visits surgery room and his purchase option goes up in smoke]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 March 2026.
  19. ^ Cala, Rafa (8 March 2026). "El Valencia, tras decir no a Julen Agirrezabala, ya se mueve por porteros en el mercado de fichajes" [Valencia, after saying no to Julen Agirrezabala, are already on the move for goalkeepers in the transfer market]. Estadio Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 March 2026.
  20. ^ Olivares, David (12 November 2025). "Dimitrievski denuncia cláusula no contrato de Agirrezabala no Valência: "Tem de jogar sim ou sim"" [Dimitrievski denounces clause in Agirrezabala's contract at Valencia: "He has to play no matter what"] (in Portuguese). Flash Score. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
  21. ^ "Agirrezabala, Vencedor, Sancet y Nico Williams, convocados con 'La Rojita'" [Agirrezabala, Vencedor, Sancet and Nico Williams, called by 'Little Reds']. El Correo. 26 August 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  22. ^ Santos Chozas, Sergio (8 October 2021). "Susto y remontada de orgullo" [Scare and proud comeback]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  23. ^ Ugalde, Iñaki (2 June 2023). "Agirrezabala, Paredes y Sancet tendrán menos vacaciones" [Agirrezabala, Paredes and Sancet will have less vacation time]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  24. ^ Romero, Abraham P. (21 June 2023). "Julen Agirrezabala: "Veo más fútbol que la Kings League, soy un clásico"" [Julen Agirrezabala: "I watch more football than the Kings League, I'm a traditionalist"]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  25. ^ Lara, Lorenzo (27 June 2023). "España, a cuartos como primera de grupo, pero sufriendo" [Spain, to the last-eight as group winners, but they suffer]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  26. ^ Herrán, Alfonso (23 March 2024). "Djaló conquista San Mamés y Bielsa la lía" [Djaló conquers San Mamés and Bielsa makes a mess]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  27. ^ Julen Agirrezabala at Soccerway
  28. ^ Julen Agirrezabala at ESPN FC
  29. ^ Julen Agirrezabala at FBref.com
  30. ^ Southby, Ben (9 July 2023). "England 1–0 Spain: James Trafford saves last-gasp penalty as England win dramatic UEFA European Under-21 Championship". TNT Sports. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
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