Mikel Vesga Set for Almería Switch as Decade-Long Athletic Bilbao Tenure Ends
The 33-year-old midfielder is finalizing his exit from Lezama after falling out of favor under manager Edin Terzic.
Experienced midfielder Mikel Vesga is on the verge of completing a move to Almería, bringing his ten-season stay at Athletic Bilbao to a definitive close.
The 33-year-old left-footed midfielder was absent from group training at Athletic’s Lezama complex on Thursday, having previously trained individually away from the squad. According to reporting by Mundo Deportivo journalist Iñaki Ugalde, the transfer now only requires an official announcement to be finalized.
Vesga’s departure follows a decision by manager Edin Terzic to exclude the veteran from his core plans for the upcoming season. While Mallorca had originally emerged as the frontrunner for his signature during early pre-season talks, Almería systematically gained ground to overtake their rivals and secure the midfielder.
Over a decade with Los Rojiblancos, Vesga registered 275 official appearances, establishing himself as a reliable option in central midfield. Sustaining a ten-year career at Athletic carries distinct significance given the club’s historic focus on roster continuity and regional talent retention.
The transition brings immediate benefits to both sides. Almería acquires a battle-tested top-flight engine room presence, while Athletic streamlines their squad structure as Terzic continues reshaping the team’s roster strategy.
