Aymeric Laporte, Athletic Bilbao Agree on New Contract: Latest Details, Reaction

Athletic Bilbao and star defender Aymeric Laporte agreed to a new contract Monday, handing the Basque club a significant boost in their bid to keep hold of the France international for the foreseeable future.

Per the team's official website, his new deal will run until the end of the 2019-20 season. 

Bilbao shared this short video of the youngster signing his new deal:

Marca (h/t the Sun's Richard Harvey) previously reported Laporte was on the verge of joining Manchester City, with new manager Pep Guardiola said to be enamoured with the youngster. While this new deal doesn't rule out a move, it makes it far less likely.

The 22-year-old's new buyout clause is roughly £51 million, and it will increase to £55 million if Laporte is still with Bilbao in 2018.

Claude Paris/Associated Press

Laporte is a graduate of Athletic's vaunted youth setup, and he made his La Liga debut in 2012. He quickly established himself as the team's top defensive option, and his obvious talent turned the heads of several top teams.

Per Telefoot (h/t Daily Star's Chisanga Malata), Manchester United and Barcelona were interested, while City were seen as the favourites for his signature.

Bleacher Report UK's Sam Tighe thinks this new contract is a clear sign Laporte has decided to stay with Athletic for now:

Bilbao have a Cantera policy, meaning the club only fields Basque players, and as a result, they're notoriously difficult to negotiate with. Athletic rarely sell their biggest stars unless they have to, and those stars tend to stay at the club far longer than they would elsewhere.

Per Bleacher Report's Guillem Balague, United had to wait a full year to sign Ander Herrera, and the club grew frustrated with Bilbao during the negotiating process.

According to Balague, it's just how the club works:

Laporte's new buyout clause of more than £50 million is steep for a talented but flawed youngster who is currently sidelined with a leg injury, according to Goal's Sam Williams. Few clubs will be willing to pay such a fee, and Athletic have all of the leverage they need to turn down any other offer.

None of this rules out a summer move for Laporte, but he's far more likely to still be playing at the San Mames next season.