Aymeric Laporte facts for kids
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Laporte with Al-Nassr in 2023
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 27 May 1994 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Agen, France | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.89 m | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Centre-back | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current club | Al-Nassr | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 27 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000–2009 | SU Agen | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2010 | Bayonne | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2011 | Athletic Bilbao | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2012 | Basconia | 33 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2013 | Athletic Bilbao B | 8 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2018 | Athletic Bilbao | 161 | (7) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2023 | Manchester City | 121 | (8) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023– | Al-Nassr | 39 | (7) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National team‡ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2012 | France U17 | 11 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2012 | France U18 | 9 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2013 | France U19 | 12 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2016 | France U21 | 19 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021– | Spain | 40 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Honours
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† Appearances (Goals). |
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Aymeric Laporte (born 27 May 1994) is a professional footballer. He plays as a centre-back for Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr and the Spain national team.
Aymeric joined Athletic Bilbao in 2010 when he was 16. He was only the second French-born player to play for them. He played 222 games for the club. In January 2018, he moved to Manchester City. There, he helped his team win many important trophies. This included a "domestic treble" in 2019 (winning three major English trophies) and a "continental treble" in 2023 (winning three major trophies including the Champions League).
Even though he was born in France, Aymeric Laporte played for France's youth teams 51 times. He was called up to the senior French team twice but did not play. In 2021, he became a Spanish citizen. FIFA allowed him to switch national teams. He then joined Spain's squad for UEFA Euro 2020. He also played for Spain in the 2022 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2024, which Spain won.
Contents
Aymeric Laporte's Early Life
Aymeric Jean Louis Gérard Alphonse Laporte was born on May 27, 1994, in Agen, France. His family has Basque roots. He started playing both football and rugby at age five. He began his football training at Agen's football academy. In 2009, Athletic Bilbao invited him to join their club after scouting him. He spent a season with Bayonne because he was too young to move outside France at the time.
Laporte's Club Career
Playing for Athletic Bilbao
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Laporte officially joined Athletic Bilbao in 2010. He started in their youth system at Lezama. Some people debated if he met the club's strict policy for signing players from the Basque region. He played for the club's lower teams, Basconia and Athletic Bilbao B.
On November 28, 2012, he played his first game for the main team. This was in a UEFA Europa League match against Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona. Laporte played the whole game, and Athletic Bilbao won 2-0.
He made his first La Liga (Spain's top league) appearance on December 9, 2012. He was promoted to the first team soon after and signed a new contract. On January 14, 2013, he received the number four shirt.
Laporte became a regular starter under coach Ernesto Valverde. He sometimes played as a left-back. He scored his first professional goal on October 28, 2013, against Getafe. At the end of the 2013–14 season, he was chosen for the La Liga Team of the Year.
In June 2015, Laporte extended his contract until 2019. His release clause (the amount a club would have to pay to buy him) was €50 million. After losing the 2015 Copa del Rey Final to Barcelona, he helped Athletic Bilbao win the 2015 Supercopa de España against the same team. This was Athletic's first trophy in 31 years. On June 13, 2016, his contract was renewed again until 2020, with his buyout clause increasing to €65 million.
Moving to Manchester City
In January 2018, Laporte joined Manchester City. The transfer fee was about £57 million. This was a record amount for both clubs. He was given the number 14 shirt.
Just one day after signing, Laporte played his first game for Manchester City in the Premier League. City won 3-0 against West Bromwich Albion. He played 13 games that season, helping City reach 100 points in the Premier League. He played nine league games, which meant he earned a winner's medal.
Laporte scored his first goal for City on August 25, 2018. It was an equalizer against Wolverhampton Wanderers. In the 2018–19 season, he played 51 games. The club won the first domestic treble in English football history. This included the Premier League, FA Cup, and League Cup. He scored five goals that season. One important goal was on the final day of the Premier League season. This helped City win back-to-back league titles.
On August 31, 2019, Laporte got a knee injury. He had surgery in September 2019. After returning from injury, he was a regular starter. However, John Stones and Rúben Dias formed a strong partnership in defense. On April 25, 2021, Laporte scored the only goal in the 2021 EFL Cup Final. City beat Tottenham to win their fourth straight EFL Cup.
Laporte played fewer games in the 2022–23 season. But Manchester City became the second English team to win the treble. They won the FA Cup, Premier League, and Champions League.
Playing for Al-Nassr
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On August 24, 2023, Laporte joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr. The transfer fee was £23.6 million.
International Football Career
Playing for France
Laporte played for France's youth teams. He played for the under-17, under-18, under-19, and under-21 teams. He was the captain of each team. He was part of the team that finished second in the 2013 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. He was also chosen for the Team of the Tournament.
On March 24, 2016, Laporte got a serious leg injury during a game. This ended his season early. Before this, in October 2015, he had said he might play for Spain if France did not pick him for UEFA Euro 2016.
In August 2016, Laporte started the process to be able to play for Spain. A month later, France's manager, Didier Deschamps, called him up to the senior French team. Laporte then said he would not apply for Spanish nationality. He still wanted to play for France. He did not play in those matches. In August 2019, he was called up again for France. But he got injured playing for his club and could not join the team.
Playing for Spain
In May 2021, the Spanish government gave Laporte Spanish nationality. FIFA then allowed him to switch teams. This meant he could play for Spain in the upcoming UEFA Euro 2020 tournament. Laporte had previously said that playing for Spain was "out of the question."
On May 24, 2021, Laporte was included in Spain's team for Euro 2020. On June 4, he played his first game for Spain. It was a friendly match against Portugal that ended in a 0-0 draw. He scored his first goal for Spain on June 23. It was in a 5-0 win against Slovakia during the group stage of Euro 2020.
On July 14, 2024, Laporte helped Spain win their fourth European Championship at UEFA Euro 2024. He started in every knockout game.
Laporte's Style of Play
Football journalist Guillem Balagué described Laporte as a "centre-back who can play from the back and is strong." He is also known for his good passing skills.
Aymeric Laporte's Personal Life
Aymeric is the second son of Lionel and Marie-José Laporte. His father worked in a supermarket, and his mother was a hairdresser. His younger brother, Léo Laporte, is also a professional footballer.
His grandfather, Pierre, played rugby. His other grandfather, Jacques, played tennis.
Aymeric is married to Sara Botello, a professional dancer. They got married in June 2023. They have two daughters, Lucay, born in 2021, and another born in June 2024.
Career Statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Basconia | 2011–12 | Tercera División | 33 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 33 | 2 | ||||
| Athletic Bilbao B | 2012–13 | Segunda División B | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |||
| Athletic Bilbao | 2012–13 | La Liga | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | — | 17 | 0 | ||
| 2013–14 | 35 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 38 | 2 | |||||
| 2014–15 | 33 | 0 | 7 | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | — | 49 | 0 | ||||
| 2015–16 | 26 | 3 | 5 | 2 | — | 12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 45 | 5 | |||
| 2016–17 | 33 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | 6 | 0 | — | 43 | 2 | ||||
| 2017–18 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 10 | 1 | — | 30 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 161 | 7 | 20 | 2 | — | 39 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 222 | 10 | |||
| Manchester City | 2017–18 | Premier League | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 13 | 0 | |
| 2018–19 | 35 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 51 | 5 | ||
| 2019–20 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 1 | ||
| 2020–21 | 16 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | 27 | 2 | |||
| 2021–22 | 33 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 4 | ||
| 2022–23 | 12 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 121 | 8 | 18 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 33 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 180 | 12 | ||
| Al-Nassr | 2023–24 | Saudi Pro League | 27 | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 39 | 4 | |
| 2024–25 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 19 | 4 | |||
| Total | 39 | 7 | 6 | 0 | — | 10 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 58 | 8 | |||
| Career total | 362 | 24 | 44 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 82 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 501 | 32 | ||
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 2021 | 14 | 1 |
| 2022 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 14 | 1 | |
| Total | 40 | 2 | |
- Scores and results list Spain's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Laporte goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23 June 2021 | La Cartuja, Seville, Spain | 4 |  Slovakia |
2–0 | 5–0 | UEFA Euro 2020 | |
| 2 | 15 October 2024 | Estadio Nuevo Arcángel, Córdoba, Spain | 39 |  Serbia |
1–0 | 3–0 | 2024–25 UEFA Nations League A |
Honours and Awards
Athletic Bilbao
- Supercopa de España: 2015
Manchester City
- Premier League: 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23
- FA Cup: 2018–19, 2022–23
- EFL Cup: 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020–21
- FA Community Shield: 2018
- UEFA Champions League: 2022–23
- UEFA Super Cup: 2023
Spain
Individual Awards
- UEFA European Under-19 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2013
- La Liga Team of the Year: 2013–14
- PFA Team of the Year: 2018–19 Premier League
See Also
In Spanish: Aymeric Laporte para niños
- List of Spain international footballers born outside Spain
- List of sportspeople who competed for more than one nation
