FIFA bans Athletico Bilbao from signing players on three Transfer windows

Athletic Bilbao has been hit with a ban on signing new players for the next three transfer windows, FIFA has confirmed

The club has been added to FIFA’s Registration Bans list, which tracks teams temporarily barred from registering new players due to issues like financial disputes or regulatory non-compliance.

The ban will cover the summer 2026, winter 2027, and summer 2027 transfer windows, meaning Athletic Bilbao will only be eligible to sign new players again in the winter of 2028. FIFA has not disclosed the specific reason for the club’s inclusion on the list.

Speaking on the matter, Athletic Club described the ban as “a mere formality, a minor matter that will have no further impact.” Club sources added, “It’s a disagreement over some rights to a player that will be resolved in the coming hours.”

This development comes as a temporary setback for the La Liga side, but the club remains confident the issue will be quickly resolved.