FIFA has placed Athletic Club on its official “Registration Bans” list, meaning the Basque side will not be able to register or sign new players across the next three transfer windows — summer 2026, winter 2027, and summer 2027 — effectively barring signings until January 2028 if the sanction stands.
The measure, visible on FIFA’s digital Registration Bans platform, is typically applied to clubs temporarily prohibited from registering players due to financial disputes, regulatory non-compliance or contractual discrepancies. In Athletic’s case, reports suggest the issue stems from an administrative disagreement over player rights related to goalkeeper Álex Padilla’s loan and early return from Pumas UNAM in Mexico — a matter the club insists is being resolved.
What the Ban Means
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No registration of new players during three consecutive transfer periods:
• Summer 2026
• Winter 2027
• Summer 2027
— which would leave Athletic unable to make squad additions until the January 2028 window opens. -
The restriction applies to both national and international registrations of professional and amateur footballers.
FIFA’s list describes the bans as a disciplinary tool to enforce compliance. Entries are updated continuously and may be lifted once issues are resolved.
Athletic Club Responds
Athletic officials have played down the severity of the situation, characterising it as a minor administrative issue related to training compensation or player rights, rather than a serious breach of financial rules. The club believes the matter will be resolved in the coming days, which would result in their removal from the registration ban list and restoration of their ability to sign and register players.
Historically, similar cases involving Spanish clubs such as Rayo Vallecano and RCD Mallorca saw bans lifted once disputes — often relatively small financial matters — were resolved.
While Athletic is renowned for its unique Basque-only signing policy, which inherently limits its transfer activities, the potential ban could still have significant sporting repercussions. The inability to reinforce the squad during multiple transfer windows — especially amid ongoing La Liga and European commitments — raises concerns about squad depth and competitiveness in the seasons ahead.
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