Athletic Club sign Ibai Gomez back from Alaves Transfer Market - LaLiga Santander On a contract that runs to 2022

Athletic Club have announced the signing of Ibai Gomez from Alaves on a contract that runs until June 2022.

The deal doesn't include a release clause and will see the forward return to his former club after leaving Lezama in 2016.

The 29-year-old had been tempted by other clubs and could have chosen to play abroad, but opted instead for a return to an Athletic side battling relegation.

Born in Bilbao, he started his career with local club Santutxu before playing in the third tier of Spanish football with Sestao River Club.

He joined Athletic in the summer of 2010 and was called up to the first team in October of the same year.

His senior debut ended just three minutes after coming on when he left the pitch against Real Zaragoza on a stretcher having dislocated his kneecap.

The Spaniard played in the Europa League and Copa del Rey finals under Marcelo Bielsa, but spent long periods on the sidelines with injury under Ernesto Valverde.

During his first spell at Athletic, he scored 17 goals in 145 games and won the Supercopa de Espana before joining Alaves in 2016.