Kepa Arrizabalaga's world-record move to Chelsea made him the latest player to rake in a huge transfer bounty for Athletic Bilbao.
The LaLiga club's unique policy of only signing players hailing from the Basque region informs a policy of inserting substantial release clauses into the contracts of their prized assets.
Under the presidency of Josu Urrutia, the so-called 'clause or nothing' approach has seen four players sold for the terms outlined in their contracts – netting Athletic a massive €221million.
Javi Martinez - €40m to Bayern Munich (August 2012)
BM vs. @manchesterunited August 5, 2018
Ander Herrera - €36m to Manchester United (July 2014)
A year after David Moyes launched a failed bid for Herrera, United got their man amid the transfer splurge that began the Louis van Gaal era. Technically assured and with a combative streak that makes him a favourite of Jose Mourinho, United's best performances tend to coincide with when the 28-year-old is on top form.
Good way to end the tour , thanks to all our American fans, we feel really loved over there August 1, 2018
Aymeric Laporte - €65m to Manchester City (January 2018)
An elegant, ball-playing defender naturally attuned to Pep Guardiola's style, Laporte became City's record signing earlier this year. He has since lost that status to Riyad Mahrez but the imposing Frenchman – his grandparents being of Basque descent made him eligible for Athletic – is well placed to established himself as City's first-choice centre-back this season, having already pocketed a Premier League winners' medal.
Mucha suerte hermanito ! Eres un grande dentro y fuera del campo. Te admiro! Fuerte abrazo August 8, 2018
Kepa Arrizabalaga - €80m to Chelsea (August 2018)
Kepa made the Athletic number-one spot his own after returning from a loan spell with Real Valladolid at the start of the 2016-17 campaign. His form caught Real Madrid's attention but mounting transfer speculation culminated in him signing a seven-and-a-half-year contract extension at San Mames in January. That deal contained the clause that forced Chelsea to make the 23-year-old the most expensive goalkeeper of all time.
