Athletic Club's Lezama Academy Supplies Players to Spanish Segunda División Clubs

Athletic Club has continued its policy of developing young talent at its Lezama academy by arranging playing opportunities for promising forwards. On loan, 19‑year‑old striker Manex Lozano moved from Athletic to Racing Santander, a deal aimed at giving him regular minutes and allowing the club to monitor his progress.

Lezama’s influence extends across the Segunda División, where 63.6% of the 22 clubs field at least one player trained in the Bilbao academy – a total of 27 individuals. Recent summer moves include midfielder Mikel Vesga joining Almería and forward Urko Izeta signing for Cádiz, both seeking greater first‑team exposure. The trend underscores Athletic’s strategy of using loan spells to accelerate the development of its home‑grown prospects while maintaining long‑term ties with the players.