| Iñigo Lekue | |
| Full Name: | Iñigo Lekue Martínez |
| Birth Date: | 4 May 1993[1] |
| Birth Place: | Bilbao, Spain |
| Height: | 1.80 m |
| Position: | Full-back |
| Currentclub: | Athletic Bilbao |
| Clubnumber: | 15 |
| Youthyears1: | 2008–2012 |
| Youthclubs1: | Danok Bat |
| Years1: | 2012–2013 |
| Caps1: | 34 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2013–2015 |
| Caps2: | 60 |
| Goals2: | 1 |
| Years3: | 2015– |
| Caps3: | 186 |
| Goals3: | 3 |
| Club-Update: | 00:52, 16 August 2024 (UTC) |
Iñigo Lekue Martínez (in Basque iɲiɣo lekue maɾtines̻/; pronounced as /es/; born 4 May 1993) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a right or left-back for Athletic Bilbao.
Formed at Athletic Bilbao, he has made over 200 appearances, winning the Supercopa de España twice and also the 2023–24 Copa del Rey.
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]
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]
| 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 | 0 | 37 | 0 | |||||
| 2015–16 | 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 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 34 | 1 | |
| 2016–17 | 25 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | — | 31 | 3 | ||||
| 2017–18 | 32 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 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 | 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 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
| Total | 186 | 3 | 29 | 0 | 25 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 243 | 4 | |||
| Career total | 280 | 4 | 29 | 0 | 25 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 343 | 5 | |||
Athletic Bilbao
2023–24;[21] runner-up: 2019–20,[22] 2020–21[23]
Individual
December 2023 (with Nico Williams)[26]