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 15 (2)
International career
2024– Basque Country[1] 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 9 June 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 24 March 2024

Career

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Athletic Bilbao

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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

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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

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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

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  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
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