Ander Herrera is set to re-join boyhood club Athletic Bilbao this month, with his Paris Saint-Germain contract expected to be terminated shortly.
The former Manchester United midfielder, 33, still had two years left on his PSG deal but wants to return to Spain after seeing his minutes limited. He played just 19 Ligue 1 games during the 2021/22 campaign and was set for a similar return this time around.
PSG are yet to announce Herrera's departure but it's only a matter of time until the news is confirmed, with rumours circulating for several weeks. The two-cap Spain international is set to sign a two-year deal with Athletic, with the option of a further 12 months.
As reported by Spanish outlet Marca, Herrera will return to Athletic this month. Athletic's current manager is Ernesto Valverde, who coached the experienced midfielder at the La Liga outfit before his £29million move to Old Trafford in the summer of 2014.
Herrera was born in Bilbao, located in the Basque Country, but came through the ranks at Real Zaragoza. He got the opportunity to join Athletic in the summer of 2011, going on to make 128 appearances in all competitions during an impressive three-year spell.
It was at Athletic where Herrera caught United's attention. Herrera spent five seasons at Old Trafford, playing 189 games, before joining PSG in the summer of 2019. It was a successful spell, too, as he won four trophies - including the Europa League in May 2017.
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United haven't won silverware since Herrera's departure and have also lacked quality in central midfield, even if Herrera never became a superstar at Old Trafford. He's since enjoyed further success at PSG, winning seven trophies - including two Ligue 1 titles.
Athletic adhere to a strict "cantera" policy of developing Basque players and recruiting players from other Basque clubs, such as Herrera. Their strategy is to sign players native or trained in the greater Basque country, which covers parts of Spain and France.
Speaking to The Guardian in August 2014, Herrera said: "I would never have left Athletic if it hadn’t been for a club like United. I left a different, unique club, with a special philosophy and incredible people. It’s a club that few of us have had the privilege of playing for and, who knows, but for United I might have been there 10 years."
But speaking in June, Herrera dismissed the idea of returning to Athletic. "I have admiration, respect and affection for Athletic, but I am not going there in any role and I will continue in Paris next year," he said, as quoted by Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo.
A lot has changed at PSG since then. Christophe Galtier has succeeded Mauricio Pochettino as manager and completed an overhaul of the squad, with the likes of Alphonse Areola, Thilo Kehrer, Georginio Wijnaldum and Arnaud Kalimuendo all leaving the club.
Other players - such as Mauro Icardi, Keylor Navas and and Idrissa Gueye - are expected to leave PSG before the transfer deadline. Hererra is yet to play for PSG this season and was left out of the squad for Sunday's 7-1 victory against Lille.
