It was no secret, but it had to be made official and that last obstacle has been overcome: Ander Herrera is a new player of the Real Zaragoza. The midfielder arrives on a free transfer after terminating his contract with Argentine side Boca Juniors to try to return with the team to professional football. He signs for one season.
This way, everything is in order. Real Zaragoza and Ander Herrera have signed the agreement for the return home of the homegrown player, who signs for one season for the white team. In addition, everything indicates that he has already undergone a medical examination, having successfully passed it.
Ander, who turns 37 in August, returns to Real Zaragoza betting on the project in the First Federation. The SAD points out in its statement that it lands with «the ambition and objective of recovering a place in professional football as soon as possible».
His return would be «an unequivocal sign of a feeling of belonging«, as well as «the return of a Zaragoza player at a key sporting moment for the future of the entity».
TRAINING IN ZARAGOZA
After taking his first steps at U.D. Amistad, Ander arrived at the Ciudad Deportiva del Real Zaragoza at the age of 11. He grew as one of the promises of the white academy until he reached the first team and made his debut on February 1, 2009 in a match against Levante.
His participation in the second half of the 2008/09 season ended up being relevant to contribute to promotion to the First Division. In the following two seasons he consolidated himself in the national elite.
CAREER AT OTHER BIG CLUBS
In the summer of 2011 he signed for Athletic Club, where he became a player under Marcelo Bielsa. In his first season in Bilbao he reached the finals of the Europa League and Copa del Rey and maintained a great performance in the more than 100 games he played in this first stage.
In 2014 Manchester United acquired his services and won their first titles, as well as playing nearly 200 games in five seasons. He opened his trophy cabinet with an FA Cup, a Community Shield, a League Cup and the UEFA Europa League in the 2016-17 season. In addition, he contributed 20 goals and 27 assists to the team in that period.
PARIS, ATHLETIC AND BOCA
PSG was the next step in Ander Herrera’s career. A challenge at the height of one of the biggest teams in Europe in recent years. In three seasons in Paris he played 95 games in which he scored six goals and provided six assists, as well as adding to his trophy cabinet with numerous titles: two Leagues, two Cups, two French Super Cups and a League Cup.
After finishing his time at PSG, he returned to Athletic Club for a second stage that culminated in one of the most special titles for the Basque team: the 2024 Copa del Rey; a trophy that had eluded them for 40 years.
Finally, Ander was able to enjoy two years in Argentina, in the ranks of Boca Juniors. This experience gave him the opportunity to play matches in competitions such as the Copa Libertadores or the Club World Cup.
Now, with nearly 600 games as a professional behind him, Ander returns home. «From the club we are tremendously excited about a high-level incorporation for this season in the First Federation,» concludes the statement from the Real Zaragoza.
