Transfer Tales: Ander Herrera’s 2014 move from Athletic Bilbao to Man Utd

First breaking on to the scene with Real Zaragoza back in 2008, at just 19 years old, the midfielder was a mainstay the following season, helping his boyhood club retain their top-flight status while also netting his first goal in a 4-1 defeat to RCD Mallorca.

Two years later, he would swap Zaragoza for Bilbao, joining the club on a five-year-contract for a reported fee of around €7.5 million. Appearing 128 times for the Basque club, he most notably helped the side reach both the Copa del Rey and Europa League finals in his first season. Ander also aided the team in qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in 16 years, in 2014.

The same year, Herrera paid his own buyout clause to join United that very summer, after impressing the season before in a Europa League game at Old Trafford. Bilbao won the game 3-2, with the player later admitting that he himself believes it was one of the best games he has played in his career.