Mikel Vesga

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

Mikel Vesga Arruti (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈmikel ˈβesɣa];^[α] born 8 April 1993) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Athletic Bilbao as a defensive midfielder.

Mikel Vesga

Vesga with Leganés in 2018
Personal information
Full name	Mikel Vesga Arruti[1]
Date of birth	(1993-04-08) 8 April 1993 (age 32)[1]
Place of birth	Vitoria, Spain
Height	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)[1]
Position(s)	Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team	Athletic Bilbao
Number	6
Youth career
	Aurrerá
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2012–2013	Aurrerá	25	(2)
2013–2014	Alavés B	8	(0)
2014–2016	Bilbao Athletic	74	(4)
2016–	Athletic Bilbao	188	(9)
2017	→ Sporting Gijón (loan)	17	(1)
2018–2019	→ Leganés (loan)	26	(1)
International career‡
2018–	Basque Country	2	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 20:04, 18 May 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 24 March 2024

Club career

Born in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Álava, Basque Country, Vesga made his debut as a senior with CD Aurrerá de Vitoria in 2012, in the Tercera División. In summer 2013 he moved to Deportivo Alavés, being assigned to the reserves also in the fourth division.

On 1 July 2014, after refusing a new deal,^[2] Vesga joined another reserve team, Bilbao Athletic from Segunda División B.^[3] Having gained the confidence of coach José Ángel Ziganda^[4] he was an ever-present figure during the season, appearing in 38 matches and scoring three goals as they returned to Segunda División after 19 years.^[5]

Vesga made his professional debut on 24 August 2015, starting in a 1–0 home loss against Girona FC.^[6] He scored his first league goal on 7 February of the following year, the winner in a 3–2 away victory over RCD Mallorca.^[7]

On 17 August 2016, after spending the whole pre-season with the first team, Vesga was definitely promoted to the Ernesto Valverde-led side and was assigned the number 12 shirt.^[8] He made his La Liga debut four days later, coming on as a second-half substitute for Mikel San José in the 2–1 defeat at Sporting de Gijón.^[9]

On 12 September 2016, Vesga extended his contract until 2019, with a buyout clause set at €30 million.^[10] The following 25 January, he was loaned to fellow top-tier club Sporting Gijón until the end of the campaign.^[11] He scored his first goal in the competition on 15 April 2017, putting the hosts ahead 2–1 in an eventual 3–2 loss against Real Madrid at El Molinón.^[12]

On 4 July 2018, Vesga was loaned to CD Leganés also from the Spanish top flight in a season-long move.^[13] In January 2021 he agreed to an extension at Athletic running to the summer of 2024, with a release clause of €50 million.^[14]

On 3 February 2022, Vesga provided the assist for Álex Berenguer to score a late winning goal against Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey.^[15] On 21 April, he closed the 3–2 victory at Cádiz CF with a shot from outside the box, also being sent off in the match.^[16] A week later, he was the standout player in the defeat of Atlético Madrid, with 15 ball recoveries and a 98% pass completion rate.^[17]

Vesga scored two penalties in a 4–2 win over Real Betis on 27 August 2023.^[18][19] He again renewed his contract at the San Mamés Stadium in December, to run until 30 June 2027.^[20]

Career statistics

As of match played 18 May 2025^[21][22][23]

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
Bilbao Athletic	2014–15	Segunda División B	33	3	—		—		5[a]	0	38	3
	2015–16	Segunda División	41	1	—		—		—		41	1
	Total		74	4	0	0	0	0	5	0	79	4
Athletic Bilbao	2016–17	La Liga	6	0	1	0	1[b]	0	—		8	0
	2017–18		12	1	2	0	7[b]	0	—		21	1
	2019–20		20	0	7[c]	0	—		—		27	0
	2020–21		30	0	6	0	—		2[d]	0	38	0
	2021–22		32	2	5	0	–		2[d]	0	39	2
	2022–23		36	3	7	1	–		–		43	4
	2023–24		27	3	5	0	–		–		32	3
	2024–25		25	0	1	0	7[b]	0	1[e]	0	34	0
	Total		188	9	34	0	15	0	5	0	242	10
Sporting Gijón (loan)	2016–17	La Liga	17	1	0	0	—		—		17	1
Leganés (loan)	2018–19	La Liga	26	1	2	0	—		—		28	1
Career total			305	15	36	1	15	0	10	0	366	16

1. Appearances in Segunda División B play-offs
2. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
3. Includes appearance in 2020 Copa del Rey final (played in 2021)
4. Appearances in Supercopa de España
5. Appearance in Supercopa de España

Honours

Athletic Bilbao

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

Notes

1. In isolation, Vesga is pronounced [ˈbesɣa].