Al-Nassr Saudi Club announced in an official statement today, Thursday, the departure of defender Émeric Laporte to Spanish club Athletic Bilbao in a permanent transfer deal.

The club stated: "Al-Nassr Club Company has agreed to the transfer of player Émeric Laporte to Spanish club Athletic Bilbao."

It added: "The club would like to extend its sincere thanks to him for the time he spent with Al-Nassr, wishing him success."

The International Football Federation (FIFA) had granted the Spanish Football Federation permission to obtain the international transfer certificate from the Saudi Football Federation, and once this certificate is issued, the club will be able to register player Émeric Laporte in the Athletic Bilbao roster.

Initially, the deal was delayed due to Al-Nassr's late submission of the required documents on the last day of the transfer market, before the case was raised to FIFA, which confirmed that the player's registration had indeed occurred before the closure of the summer transfer window in Europe.