Ander Herrera sold to Athletic Bilbao to facilitate Keylor Navas loan

Ander Herrera, on loan at Athletic Bilbao, was acquired by the Spanish side from PSG on Tuesday turning his season-long loan into a full-term deal. PSG loaned Herrera to his former team last summer but had to enter negotiations for a full sale in order to facilitate other loan moves away from the capital.

Paris Saint-Germain might not have wanted to sell any player through the winter transfer window, but they were forced to do so in order to facilitate the exit on loan of backup goalkeeper Keylor Navas.

With too many players already loaned away, PSG couldn't have sent Navas to Nottingham Forest without getting rid of one of their active loans before.

There were two options: recall a player on loan or turn one of those loans into a full-term deal. PSG opted for the second one with Athletic Bilbao purchasing Ander Herrera and signing the Spaniard to a full-term deal.

PSG decided to sell Ander Herrera to Athletic Bilbao in order to send Keylor Navas away on loan

Herrera started his professional career at Zaragoza, making his debut in the Spanish second division back in the 2008-09 season. He played 19 games and scored two goals back then, before moving to Athletic Club ahead of the 2011-12 campaign.

At Athletic, Herrera had his breakout spending three seasons in Bilbao before signing with Manchester United in the English Premier League. Herrera played 109 games at the former club and 188 at Man Utd.

In the summer of 2019, PSG acquired Ander Herrera to bolster their midfield. Herrera would go on to play three full seasons at PSG appearing in 95 matches scoring six goals and assisting six more.

This season, Herrera has played eight La Liga games (one assist) and three Spanish Cup matches while helping Athletic Bilbao to reach the semi-finals of the latter tournament, to be played later this year in March and April.

Here's hoping Herrera has a nice time in his former club and can finish his ongoing cup run with a victory!