Julen Agirrezabala in 2026: Net Worth and Salary, Siblings, Injury, Stats, Transfer Values, and FAQs

Who Is Julen Agirrezabala?

If you follow La Liga or Spanish football in general, you have probably come across the name Julen Agirrezabala at some point over the last couple of seasons. He is a 25 year old goalkeeper from the Basque Country who has quietly been building a really solid career. He came through the Athletic Bilbao academy, won the Copa del Rey with the club, and then went on loan to Valencia to prove he could be a number one at the top level.

What makes Julen interesting is not just his shot stopping ability but the way he has handled the ups and downs. He has dealt with injuries, competition for his spot, and the pressure of being part of one of the most unique clubs in world football. Athletic Bilbao only signs Basque players, so the pathway is different there. If you make it, it means something.

Age and Early Life

Julen Agirrezabala was born on December 26, 2000, in Errenteria, a town in the Basque Country region of Spain. That makes him 25 years old as of 2026. He started playing football at a young age, joining local club Touring when he was just 11. From there he moved to Antiguoko, one of the well known feeder clubs for Athletic Bilbao, and spent four years there developing his skills before joining Athletic's youth setup in 2018.

His progression through the ranks was steady rather than explosive. He went from Athletic's youth team to CD Basconia, then to Athletic Bilbao B, and eventually got his first team call up in the summer of 2021. He made his La Liga debut on August 16, 2021, keeping a clean sheet in a 0 to 0 draw against Elche. Not a bad way to introduce yourself.

Siblings and Family

Julen keeps his personal life fairly private, which is pretty common among Spanish footballers who are not at the absolute superstar level. Not much has been publicly shared about his siblings or wider family. What is clear is that he comes from the Basque Country, and that connection to the region runs deep. Playing for Athletic Bilbao is not just a career choice for Basque players. It is a statement of identity and belonging.

His family has been supportive throughout his career, and the values of hard work and loyalty that come with growing up in that part of Spain are visible in how he carries himself on and off the pitch.

Career Stats

Julen's career stats tell the story of a goalkeeper who has steadily grown into his role. Across all competitions, he has made over 100 senior appearances when you combine his time with Athletic Bilbao B, Athletic Bilbao's first team, and Valencia.

In La Liga specifically, he has racked up around 75 appearances with a combined total of roughly 13 clean sheets across multiple seasons. During the 2024/2025 season at Athletic Bilbao, he played 14 La Liga matches and kept five clean sheets while conceding just nine goals. That is an impressive record, especially considering he was sharing time with Unai Simon.

At Valencia during the 2025/2026 season, he started 18 La Liga matches before his knee injury, recording 54 saves and four clean sheets. He also appeared in the Copa del Rey during that loan spell. His save percentage across his career typically sits between 64 and 75 percent depending on the season, which puts him in solid territory among La Liga goalkeepers.

One of the standout moments of his career at Athletic Bilbao was saving a penalty from Kylian Mbappe during a victory over Real Madrid. Moments like that stick with you.

Injury History

Injuries have been a part of Julen's story, especially in recent years. In the summer of 2024, he dealt with a back injury that kept him out for about five weeks. He also had a brief facial injury in September 2024.

The most significant injury came in January 2026 while he was on loan at Valencia. He suffered a meniscus injury in his knee that required surgery. Initial reports suggested he would miss the rest of the season, which was a tough blow. However, Julen made a faster than expected recovery and managed to return to the squad before the end of the campaign. Valencia coach Carlos Corberan confirmed his return, and it was seen as a real show of determination from the goalkeeper.

Injuries are always a concern for goalkeepers, but the way Julen bounced back from the knee issue showed a lot about his character and physical resilience.

The Kepa Connection

People often compare Julen Agirrezabala to Kepa Arrizabalaga, and it makes sense on the surface. Both are Basque goalkeepers who came through the Athletic Bilbao system. Both are left footed. Both had to prove themselves at a club where the talent pool is limited by the Basque only policy.

Kepa, of course, went on to become the most expensive goalkeeper in history when Chelsea signed him in 2018. Julen's path has been different. He has stayed closer to home, developing at his own pace rather than making a blockbuster move early in his career. The comparison is flattering but also a bit unfair. Julen is his own player with his own strengths, and his career trajectory does not need to mirror Kepa's to be considered a success.

That said, the fact that Athletic Bilbao can keep producing goalkeepers of this calibre from within their own region says a lot about the club's academy and the talent that exists in the Basque Country.

Transfer Values

Julen's market value has fluctuated over the past couple of years. As of mid 2026, Transfermarkt lists his value at around 9 million euros, while other platforms have estimated it as high as 14 to 14.5 million euros. His loan move to Valencia in July 2025 was reportedly arranged with a loan fee of around 1 million euros.

His contract with Athletic Bilbao runs until June 2027, which gives the club a strong negotiating position. Whether he stays at Athletic as backup to Unai Simon, pushes for the number one spot, or moves elsewhere remains to be seen. Icon Polls notes that his value could rise significantly if he strings together a full injury free season as a starter.

Net Worth and Salary in 2026

Icon Polls estimates that Julen Agirrezabala's net worth falls between $4 million and $6 million as of 2026. This takes into account his salary at Athletic Bilbao, his earnings during the Valencia loan, and any endorsement or sponsorship income.

His exact salary figures have not been publicly disclosed, but goalkeepers at Athletic Bilbao's level typically earn in the range of 1 to 2 million euros per year. Given that he was loaned out to Valencia as a starting goalkeeper, his wages during that spell were likely in a similar bracket. As his career develops and if he secures a permanent starting role at a La Liga club, those figures are expected to grow.

Frequently Asked Questions About Julen Agirrezabala

1. How old is Julen Agirrezabala?

Julen Agirrezabala is 25 years old as of 2026. He was born on December 26, 2000.

2. What position does Julen Agirrezabala play?

He plays as a goalkeeper. He is left footed, which is relatively uncommon among goalkeepers.

3. What club does Julen Agirrezabala play for?

He is contracted to Athletic Bilbao. He spent the 2025/2026 season on loan at Valencia and returned to Athletic Bilbao at the end of that loan in June 2026.

4. What is Julen Agirrezabala's net worth?

Icon Polls estimates his net worth to be between $4 million and $6 million as of 2026.

5. How tall is Julen Agirrezabala?

He stands at 1.87 metres, which is approximately 6 feet 2 inches.

6. What nationality is Julen Agirrezabala?

He is Spanish, born in Errenteria in the Basque Country region of Spain. He has also represented the Basque Country at international level.

7. Has Julen Agirrezabala played for Spain?

He represented Spain at under 21 level between 2021 and 2023. He has also been called up for the Basque Country representative team since 2024.

8. What is Julen Agirrezabala's market value?

His market value is estimated between 9 million and 14.5 million euros depending on the source. The value has fluctuated based on his playing time and injury record.

9. Did Julen Agirrezabala win the Copa del Rey?

Yes. He was part of the Athletic Bilbao squad that won the Copa del Rey in the 2023/2024 season. He played a key role in the cup run and the club president publicly praised his performances during the tournament.

10. What injury did Julen Agirrezabala suffer?

He suffered a meniscus injury in his knee in January 2026 while on loan at Valencia. He underwent surgery and was initially expected to miss the rest of the season but made a faster than expected recovery.

11. Is Julen Agirrezabala similar to Kepa Arrizabalaga?

The comparison comes up often because both are Basque, left footed goalkeepers who came through the Athletic Bilbao academy. However, they have taken very different career paths. Kepa moved to Chelsea for a world record fee, while Julen has developed more steadily within Spanish football.

12. What are Julen Agirrezabala's career stats?

He has made over 100 senior appearances across all competitions. In La Liga alone, he has around 75 appearances with roughly 13 clean sheets. His save percentage typically ranges between 64 and 75 percent.

13. Does Julen Agirrezabala have siblings?

Julen keeps his family life private. Specific details about his siblings have not been publicly shared.

14. What is Julen Agirrezabala's salary?

His exact salary has not been publicly disclosed. Icon Polls estimates that goalkeepers at his level at Athletic Bilbao typically earn between 1 and 2 million euros per year.

15. When does Julen Agirrezabala's contract expire?

His contract with Athletic Bilbao runs until June 30, 2027.

16. Did Julen Agirrezabala save a penalty from Mbappe?

Yes. One of the highlights of his career at Athletic Bilbao was saving a penalty from Kylian Mbappe during a victory over Real Madrid. He spoke publicly about guessing the right way.

17. Why did Julen Agirrezabala go on loan to Valencia?

He went on loan to Valencia for the 2025/2026 season to get regular playing time as a number one goalkeeper. At Athletic Bilbao, Unai Simon was the established first choice, so the loan gave Julen the chance to develop as a starter.

18. Is Julen Agirrezabala left footed?

Yes. He is a left footed goalkeeper, which is relatively rare in professional football and is often seen as an advantage for distribution on the left side.

19. Where was Julen Agirrezabala born?

He was born in Errenteria, a town in the Basque Country region of Spain.

20. What is Julen Agirrezabala's transfer value in 2026?

His transfer value in 2026 is estimated between 9 million and 14.5 million euros. Icon Polls notes that this could increase if he secures a permanent starting role and stays injury free.

21. Has Julen Agirrezabala played in the Europa League?

Yes. He made appearances in the Europa League during his time with Athletic Bilbao in the 2024/2025 season, gaining European competition experience.

22. What youth teams did Julen Agirrezabala play for?

He played for Touring (2011 to 2014), Antiguoko (2014 to 2018), and Athletic Bilbao's youth system (2018 to 2019) before moving into senior football with CD Basconia and Athletic Bilbao B.