Spanish football club with a ‘never heard before’ transfer policy

Since 1912, Spanish football club Athletic Bilbao have had an unwritten rule. The club only signs players born in the Basque country or who’ve learned the game at a Basque club. On certain occasions, youth players have been invited to join for their ancestral connect, clearly highlighting that that in this day and age of globalization, where geographical boundaries have diminished, Bilbao’s decision to resist bringing inclusion to the team is odd.

This unique transfer policy has always been a point of discussion for football fans.
Some fans are in admiration of the decision. They love to cheer the local heroes signed and nurtured by the club, not realizing that the team is missing out on global talent.

Some even say this rule indicated nothing but racial intolerance. In case a player decides to leave Bilbao, Athletic officials are known to counsel the players on how this rule gave them opportunity over many better players across the globe, and hence they must not forget to give back to the club. ‘It’s as though you’ve left the family business started by your grand dad,’ ex-president of Bilbao once said.

Nothing however has stopped the team from tasting success. Bilbao, in the past ten years, have played six seasons in the second-tier Europa League and one in the Champions League. They also won Super Copa De Espana in 2021, beating Barcelona in the finals.

While purity has been a pride for the 121-year-old club, it thrives by scouting young, local talent, developing them, and creating role models which the future generations would follow.