Álex Padilla Joins Pumas from Athletic Bilbao | OneFootball

Álex Padilla joins Los Auriazules for the beginning of the 2025 Liga MX Clausura.

The 20-year-old goalkeeper was born in the north Spanish town of Zarautz, Guipúzcoa, but chose to represent El Trí through the nationality of his mother. Together with his family, he spent the first seven years of his life living in Camargo, Chihuahua.

Returning to the Basque country, Padilla rose through the ranks at Athletic Bilbao. Across the last two seasons, the shot-stopper was a main feature for the club's B-team but started the 2024/25 season with the first team.

The club's first-choice goalkeeper - Unai Simon - missed the start of the campaign through injury with manager Ernesto Valverde handing a debut to Padilla between the sticks.

Starting against Getafe and Barcelona, Padilla caught the eye of Mexican national manager Javier Aguirre, who handed him a first call-up during the September internationals, although the Spanish-born goalkeeper did not feature in the games against New Zealand and Canada.

Fast forward to 2025 and Padilla has made three appearances in the Spanish top flight. Searching for first-team experience, the goalkeeper has accepted a move to Pumas, with the club opening the Clausura account this weekend with a home match against Necaxa.

Padilla is expected to replace current first-choice Julio Gonzalez who has held the position for six seasons, since joining the club in 2019 from Veracruz.

The 20-year-old will be aiming to help Pumas challenge for the Clausura title. After a fourth place finish in the Apertura, the club fell short in the playoffs at the hands of eventual finalists Monterrey.