FIFA has confirmed that Athletic Club of Bilbao will be prohibited from registering new players for the next three major transfer windows, a decision that could see the historic Spanish club barred from signing or officially registering any new footballers until January 2028. This development stems from Athletic’s inclusion on FIFA’s official Registration Bans list, a digital platform used by world football’s governing body to publicly list clubs that are temporarily ineligible to register new players due to unresolved regulatory or administrative disputes.
Under the terms of the FIFA decision, Athletic Club is expected to miss out on the summer 2026, winter 2027 and summer 2027 transfer windows. During this extended period, the Basque side will be unable to add reinforcements to its squad, whether at national or international level, amateur or professional, unless the underlying issue prompting the ban is fully settled before each window concludes.
FIFA’s Registration Bans system is designed to ensure compliance with international transfer regulations and to protect the integrity of contractual obligations between clubs. Clubs are placed on this list when there are disputes that are unresolved, including disagreements over transfer terms, payments, training compensation or other compliance matters. According to FIFA, the ban affects clubs with financial disputes or regulatory non compliance, though the governing body does not always publicly detail the specific case leading to inclusion on the list.
Background of the dispute and Athletic Club’s response
In Athletic Club’s case, the problem appears to originate from an administrative discrepancy involving the goalkeeper Álex Padilla and his transfer arrangements with Mexican side Pumas. Reports indicate that Padilla was initially loaned out in the winter of 2025 with Athletic receiving €400,000 from Pumas. However, when Athletic found itself in need of goalkeeping cover after the departure of Julen Agirrezabala to Valencia, the club executed an early recall of Padilla, paying €300,000 as compensation.
This unexpected early termination of the loan reportedly caught Pumas by surprise and led to a disagreement over the rights and financial terms of the player’s return, triggering a flag in FIFA’s regulatory system. Because of the unresolved differences, Athletic was added to the Registration Bans list.
Importantly, Athletic’s management has played down the severity of the situation, describing it as a minor administrative matter that can be remedied quickly. The club has indicated its confidence that the dispute will be resolved in the coming days and that its name will be removed from the list once the problem is rectified. In statements to the press, Athletic representatives have emphasised that this type of action can sometimes be triggered automatically by the FIFA system in response to any open contractual or financial conflict, even if it involves a relatively small amount or technical issue.
Implications of the transfer ban
While Athletic’s senior leadership believes the ban will be lifted promptly once the disagreement is resolved, the prospect of being unable to register players for three consecutive transfer windows carries potential consequences for planning and competitiveness.
Athletic Club has a unique sporting philosophy and operates with one of the most distinctive recruitment policies in world football, traditionally prioritising homegrown Basque talent. Over the years, the club has generally relied less on the traditional transfer market than many peers, focusing on youth development and internal promotion. However, even with this emphasis on internal talent, being restricted from registering new players at all, including academy graduates returning or advanced from loans, could create strategic challenges.
Clubs facing similar FIFA bans, such as Rayo Vallecano and RCD Mallorca, have previously navigated their way off the Registration Bans list by settling debts or contractual claims, illustrating that these measures can be reversed if disputes are resolved. Athletic will be aiming for a similar outcome and hopes to normalise its position before the start of the next registration period.
Wider context and regulatory compliance
FIFA’s Registration Ban list has become an increasingly visible mechanism for enforcing compliance with international transfer regulations. The system has been used in recent years to sanction clubs that fail to honour contractual or financial commitments to other parties, whether in domestic leagues or cross border transactions. Sanctions typically remain in place until the disputed issue is addressed to FIFA’s satisfaction, with the ultimate goal of ensuring clubs adhere to global governance standards.
In Athletic’s situation, the club’s stance is that the conflict is procedural and will be resolved without long term impact. If that proves true, the entry on the Registration Bans list may be temporary rather than a defining setback for the club’s long term transfer strategy.
For now, supporters, analysts and rival clubs across La Liga are watching closely to see how quickly Athletic can address the dispute and have its ban lifted so that it can participate fully in upcoming transfer windows and maintain competitiveness in domestic and European football.