Iñigo Lekue

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Lekue and the second or maternal family name is Martínez.

Iñigo Lekue Martínez (Basque: [iɲiɣo lekue maɾtines̻]; Spanish: [ˈiɲiɣo ˈlekwe maɾˈtineθ]; born 4 May 1993) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a right or left-back for Athletic Bilbao.

Iñigo Lekue

Lekue in 2017
Personal information
Full name	Iñigo Lekue Martínez
Date of birth	(1993-05-04) 4 May 1993 (age 32)[1]
Place of birth	Bilbao, Spain[1]
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Position(s)	Full-back
Team information
Current team	Athletic Bilbao
Number	15
Youth career
2008–2012	Danok Bat
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2012–2013	Basconia	34	(0)
2013–2015	Bilbao Athletic	60	(1)
2015–	Athletic Bilbao	201	(3)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 22:11, 26 May 2025 (UTC)

Developed at Athletic Bilbao, he made over 250 appearances, winning the Supercopa de España twice and also the 2023–24 Copa del Rey.

Club career

Lekue with Athletic Bilbao in 2018

Born in Bilbao, Basque Country, Lekue graduated from Danok Bat CF's youth system.^[2] In summer 2012 he moved to Athletic Bilbao, and made his debut as a senior with the farm team in the Tercera División.^[3]

On 21 June 2013, Lekue was promoted to the reserves in the Segunda División B.^[4] On 29 June 2015, after being an ever-present figure during the side's promotion to Segunda División after a 19-year absence,^[5] he was promoted to the main squad in La Liga.^[6]

Lekue made his official debut with the first team on 15 August 2015, coming on as a second-half substitute for fellow youth graduate Sabin Merino in a 4–0 home rout of FC Barcelona in the Supercopa de España.^[7][8] He made his first league appearance 15 days later, being taken off at half-time in a 2–0 loss at neighbouring SD Eibar.^[9]

Lekue scored his first senior goal on 21 December 2015, equalising for the reserves in a 1–1 home draw against CD Lugo.^[10] The following 3 April he scored for the first time in the top flight, opening a 1–1 draw with Granada CF at the San Mamés Stadium.^[11] On 8 June 2016, he agreed to a contract extension until 2019.^[12]

On 24 November 2016, Lekue netted his first European goal to win a UEFA Europa League group match 3–2 at home to US Sassuolo Calcio.^[13] In January 2018, he extended his contract to 2023.^[14] He missed most of the 2018–19 season with back issues,^[15] returning as a late substitute on 16 March in a 2–0 home win over Atlético Madrid.^[16]

Lekue played rarely under Gaizka Garitano, and looked for a new club in the January 2021 transfer window, but was reinstated by new manager Marcelino and won another Super Cup that month, again against Barcelona.^[17] That April, he was involved in two Copa del Rey finals in one month, losing both to Real Sociedad and Barcelona respectively; he played the latter 4–0 defeat as a half-time substitute.^[18]

In 2022–23, due to injuries to Yuri Berchiche and Mikel Balenziaga, Lekue played frequently. In April, during his own recovery, he prolonged his contract to 2025.^[19]

International career

On 22 May 2016, Lekue was called up to the Spain national team by manager Vicente del Bosque, after Jonny withdrew due to "personal reasons".^[20]

Career statistics

As of match played 25 May 2025^{[21][22][23][24]}

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Copa del Rey		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Basconia	2012–13	Tercera División	34	0	—		—		—		34	0
Bilbao Athletic	2013–14	Segunda División B	26	0	—		—		—		26	0
	2014–15		31	0	—		—		6[a]	0	37	0
	2015–16	Segunda División	3	1	—		—		—		3	1
	Total		60	1	0	0	0	0	6	0	66	1
Athletic Bilbao	2015–16	La Liga	20	1	5	0	8[b]	0	1[c]	0	34	1
	2016–17		25	2	1	0	5[b]	1	—		31	3
	2017–18		32	0	2	0	12[b]	0	—		46	0
	2018–19		4	0	0	0	—		—		4	0
	2019–20		14	0	4	0	—		—		18	0
	2020–21		18	0	4	0	—		2[c]	0	24	0
	2021–22		25	0	4	0	—		0	0	29	0
	2022–23		20	0	3	0	—		—		23	0
	2023–24		27	0	6	0	—		—		33	0
	2024–25		16	0	0	0	4[b]	0	1[d]	0	21	0
	Total		201	3	29	0	29	1	4	0	263	4
Career total			295	4	29	0	29	1	10	0	363	5

1. Appearances in Segunda División B play-offs
2. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
3. Appearances in Supercopa de España
4. Appearance in Supercopa de España

Honours

Athletic Bilbao

• Copa del Rey: 2023–24;^[25] runner-up: 2019–20,^[26] 2020–21^[27]
• Supercopa de España: 2015,^[28] 2021^[29]

Individual

• La Liga Play of the Month: December 2023 (with Nico Williams)^[30]