OFFICIAL: Man City Pay Release Clause Of La Liga Star Aymeric Laporte (Details)

La Liga outfit Athletic Bilbao have this afternoon confirmed that Manchester City have paid the full release clause of defender Aymeric Laporte.

Laporte, a 23-year-old centre-half, haslong been regarded as one of the finest stoppers in La Liga, with his combination of size, aerial dominance, reading of the game and ability on the ball combining for the complete package of a modern-day defender.

As such, it came as little surprise when Laporte was named as the best young defender in world football by ESPN last September.

The former French youth international, who came up through Bilbao’s academy, has been heavily linked with a move to Barcelona in the past, with the Blaugrana having considered Laporte, along with Real Sociedad defender Inigo Martinez, as possible long-term replacements for Gerard Pique at the Camp Nou.

However, to this point, he had rather surprisingly stayed put, despite being chased by some of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Speaking in an interview with L’Equipe back in October, Laporte was questioned on rumours that both Manchester City and Chelsea had made approaches for his services during the summer:

‘I had the chance to leave but I did not feel it.’

‘Also because I was injured and did not want to leave so.’

‘Chelsea’s interest? I can not say anything, it’s a personal thing.’

However, a number of breaking reports throughout the Spanish and English media last Tuesday claimed that Laporte’s time to depart the San Mamés for a top European club had finally arrived.

This was due to news, first revealed by widely-respected Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, that Premier League leaders Manchester City werepreparing to pay the full 65 million Euro release clause in Laporte’s Athletic Bilbao contract.

And, as per an update via the Basque outfit this afternoon, City have since done just that, with Bilbao confirmingthat Laporte is all set for the Etihad on Twitter a short time ago:

Laporte abona la cláusula de rescisión
https://t.co/WIIcwSCqM9#athletic

— Athletic Club (@AthleticClub)
January 29, 2018

Laporte has also since confirmed his departure, posting a farewell message to Bilbao following his 6-year stint with the club: