Spain keeper Simon intends to stay at Athletic Bilbao

Athletic Bilbao's Spain international goalkeeper Unai Simon insisted on Wednesday that he has no intention of leaving the club even though his contract expires in 18 months, reported Xinhua.

The 26-year-old, who already has 178 appearances for his club and represented Spain 38 times, is out of contract at the end of June 2025, but when asked about his future, he said he plans to stay at the club.

"Athletic already knows that I want to stay, and I know that they want me to stay. We have a goalkeeper for a long time," Simon explained in a press conference.

The keeper said there was no need to hurry talks over his new deal, as the club needs to give priority to other companions who are out of contract at the end of the current season.

"We have to give priority to other colleagues and this is not something that is rushed or urgent, there is no need to worry about that, there is one and a half years left. We have plenty of time to sit down and come to a quick and simple solution," said the keeper.

Simon has been in outstanding form this season and the nine clean sheets he has kept so far are a big factor in the club's current fourth place in La Liga. He hasn't played in the Copa del Rey, where coach Ernesto Valverde has given preference to 23-year-old Julen Agirrezabala.

"Every year that I don't play in the Cup I will always answer the same thing: 'of course I want to play it', but Ernesto is in charge and if I had to play in the Cup instead of the league I would be just as happy."

"Even if I don't play, I will be the first to celebrate if we do win," added Simon.

Athletic entertains sixth-placed Real Sociedad in a key derby on Saturday and then has another derby against Deportivo Alaves in the last-16 of the Copa del Rey next Tuesday.