Oier Zarraga Egaña (born 4 January 1999) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Italian club Udinese Calcio.

Oier Zarraga
Personal information
Full name Oier Zarraga Egaña
Date of birth (1999-01-04) 4 January 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth Getxo, Spain
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Central midfielder
Team information
Current team
Udinese
Number 6
Youth career
Romo
2009–2017 Athletic Bilbao
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2019 Basconia 63 (7)
2019–2021 Bilbao Athletic 38 (7)
2020–2023 Athletic Bilbao 62 (1)
2023– Udinese 9 (2)
International career
2024– Basque Country[1] 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:28, 11 March 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 24 March 2024

Career edit

Athletic Bilbao edit

Born in Getxo, Biscay, Basque Country, Zarraga joined Athletic Bilbao's youth setup in 2009, from hometown side Romo FC.[2] He made his senior debut with the farm team during the 2017–18 season, in Tercera División.

Zarraga made his debut with the reserves on 3 February 2019, coming on as a second-half substitute for Gaizka Larrazabal in a 2–1 Segunda División B home win against SD Leioa. Definitely promoted to the B-side in June 2019,[3] he subsequently became a regular starter for the team, playing in all matches of the 2019–20 campaign before the season was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In July 2020, Zarraga was called up to the pre-season with the main squad.[4] He made his professional – and La Liga – debut on 18 October, replacing Unai López in a 2–0 home win against Levante UD.[5][6] In February 2021 he signed a new contract running to summer 2023, also confirming his status as a first team squad member.[7]

Udinese edit

On 29 June 2023, Zarraga moved abroad for the first time in his career, signing a four-year contract with Serie A side Udinese Calcio.[8]

Career statistics edit

As of match played 11 March 2024[9]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Bilbao Athletic 2018–19 Segunda División B 1 0 1 0
2019–20 Segunda División B 28 5 1[a] 0 29 5
2020–21 Segunda División B 9 2 9 2
Total 38 7 0 0 1 0 39 7
Athletic Bilbao 2020–21 La Liga 5 0 0 0 5 0
2021–22 La Liga 31 1 4 0 2[b] 0 37 1
2022–23 La Liga 26 0 4 1 30 1
Total 62 1 8 1 2 0 72 2
Udinese 2023–24 Serie A 9 2 2 0 11 2
Career total 109 10 10 1 3 0 122 11
  1. ^ Appearance in Promotion Playoffs
  2. ^ Appearances in Supercopa de España

References edit

  1. ^ "Djaló conquista San Mamés y Bielsa la lía" [Djaló conquers San Mamés and Bielsa the mess] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 23 March 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  2. ^ "Oier Zarraga se destapa" [Oier Zarraga discovers himself] (in Spanish). El Correo. 28 October 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  3. ^ "Nine Basconia players will play the preseason with Bilbao Athletic". Athletic Bilbao. 27 May 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  4. ^ "Areso, Vencedor, Zarraga and Morcillo will make the preseason". Athletic Bilbao. 28 July 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  5. ^ "Berenguer ya desatasca al Athletic" [Berenguer already unlocks Athletic] (in Spanish). Marca. 18 October 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  6. ^ "Zarraga, noveno debutante con Garitano en el Athletic, es el hincha que sube de nivel" [Zarraga, ninth debutant with Garitano at Athletic, is the supporter who raised a level] (in Spanish). Marca. 18 October 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  7. ^ Zarraga pens new first-team deal, Athletic Bilbao, 1 February 2021
  8. ^ "Zarraga ficha por el Udinese" [Zarraga signs for Udinese] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 29 June 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  9. ^ Oier Zarraga at BDFutbol

External links edit