Athletic Bilbao has once again marked a milestone of precocity with the entry of ChristianImga into the first team. The young winger, who had spent the summer from the Juvenil de Honor to the reserve team, made his debut on Sunday against Getafe and became the 663rd player to have played with the red and white shirt. Just 35 minutes later, TxusVizcay joined the list as the 664th, scoring in the same match that ended 4‑0 in favor of the lions.
The 17-year-old, aged 17 years, 8 months and 8 days, joined the select list of 23 players who have made their debut for Athletic before turning 18, according to data from Transfermarkt. The youngest age record is headed by IkerMuniain, who made his debut at 16 years, 7 months and 11 days in 2009, and follows the tradition of players like JosébaEtxeberría, who debuted at 17 years, 11 months and 29 days in 1995. Other historical names, such as PiruGainza, Panizo or FidelUriarte, also appear in the precocity table.
Imga, who had already played four games in the PrimeraRFEF with BilbaoAthletic, expressed his excitement upon entering the field. According to statements to the club's official channel, the moment was “inexplicable” and he remembered the feeling of the stands getting up when they called him. “I was more eager to get in than ever and my teammates motivated me on the field,” he commented, underlining the importance of that first step in his career.
The last of the 23 underage players to debut for Athletic was the winger from Zumarraga, who made his entrance at 17 years, 8 months and 8 days in the same match against Getafe. This phenomenon of precocity is not frequent, as the club has recorded only 23 cases in its history, with the most recent in 2024 and the oldest in 1995. Athletic, under the direction of Terzic, continues to focus on youth, which is reflected in Imga's rapid progression from the youth team to the first team.
With the arrival of Imga to the squad, Athletic continues to consolidate its internal development policy and its commitment to young players. The club will continue to monitor the new forward's performance in upcoming games, while Athletic's history of precocity continues to grow with each new debutant.