Laporte returns to his parent team to usher in a wave of stars returning to the return of the stars, and more stars will return to Europe in 2026

Athletic Bilbao recently announced that it had signed a contract with 31-year-old Spanish central defender Laporte for three years. The transfer was approved by FIFA on the evening of September 11. Laport came from Athletic Bilbao youth training. After playing in the Saudi League for two years, he finally returned to his parent team and ushered in a wave of Saudi league stars returning to European football. In addition to Laporte, many stars of that year, including Duran, Berga and Essekiel Fernandez, have returned to Europe from the Saudi League. After the end of this season, more big-name stars such as Benzema and Milinkovic will return to European football in 2026 after the contracts with Saudi clubs expire.

Among the many stars who returned to European football from the Saudi league this season, five of them have a net worth of more than 10 million euros, namely Puertas, Laporte, Berga, Essekiel Fernandez and Duran. 27-year-old Spanish midfielder Puertas transferred from San Giros to Saudi League in August 2024 for 15.3 million euros. He made 37 appearances for the team last season, contributing 5 goals and 11 assists, and his performance is remarkable. He is currently worth 13 million euros and was loaned to Werder Bremen in the summer window by Huberkudisia.

23-year-old Argentine midfielder Essekiel Fernandez transferred from Boca youth to Jubairkudicia for 18.7 million euros in August 2024. He made 37 appearances for the team last season, contributing 1 goal and 4 assists, and is currently worth 12 million euros. Jubail Cudisia sold Essekiel Fernandez to Leverkusen for 25 million euros and also achieved a transfer profit of 6.3 million euros.

23-year-old Spanish midfielder Bega transferred from Celta to Jeddah Nationals for 30 million euros in August 2023. He has made 66 appearances for Jeddah Nationals in two seasons, contributing 12 goals and 10 assists, and won the AFC Elite League championship with Jeddah Nationals last season. Shortly after the end of last season, he transferred from Jeddah nationals to Porto's powerhouse Porto for 15 million euros. He has made 6 appearances for Porto in the new season and has provided two assists.

31-year-old Spanish international centre-back Laporte comes from Athletic Bilbao youth training. He transferred to Manchester City for 65 million euros in January 2018 and grew up to a world-class central defender here, winning one Champions League title and five Premier League titles with Manchester City. Laporte transferred to Riyadh for 27.5 million euros in August 2023. In the past two seasons, he has made 69 appearances for Riyadh victory, contributing 9 goals and 1 assist. He is currently worth 15 million euros. This time, he transferred to his parent team Athletic Bilbao for 10 million euros, which is also a return to his roots.

21-year-old Colombian striker Duran is the biggest star returning to Europe from Saudi Arabia in this transfer window and the most valuable player. Last season, Duran became a magical substitute at Aston Villa, making 29 appearances in half a season, starting only 7 times, but scoring 12 goals. Then he joined Riyadh for a sky-high transfer of 77 million euros in January 2025. After half a season, Duran scored 12 goals in 18 victories for Riyadh, and is currently worth 35 million euros. After the end of last season, Duran was loaned to the Turkish Super League powerhouse Fenerbahce by the team due to conflicts with the head coach and competition with Ronaldo. He has played for the team 6 times and contributed 1 goal and 1 assist. The wave of signings in the Saudi League began in the summer of 2023, when the four major clubs of Riyadh Crescent, Riyadh Victory, Jeddah United and Jeddah Nationals introduced a total of Benzema, Kante, Fabinho, Casey, Mendy, Milinkovic, Ruben Neves, Kulibali, Bunu, Mane and Brozovic. The contracts of these stars have been signed with the Saudi team for three years and will expire at the end of June 2026, and will expire in more than nine months. In more than three months, by January 2026, these players can negotiate with any team about sign-free transfers, and are likely to return to European football in June 2026.

Note: The picture comes from the Internet.