Athletic Bilbao forward Gorka Guruzeta has been ruled out for six to nine months after sustaining a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee during Saturday's 0-0 draw at Valencia's Mestalla Stadium. The 30-year-old, who came on as a second-half substitute, had been on the pitch for barely a minute before pulling up after apparently catching his foot in the turf.

Club Confirms the Worst

Athletic Bilbao's medical staff confirmed the diagnosis on Monday, 19 October, with the club announcing the news on its official website. 'Athletic Club forward Gorka Guruzeta has suffered a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee, as confirmed by the club's medical staff,' the statement read. 'The player will undergo surgery in the coming days and is expected to face an extended recovery period of six to nine months.'

Head coach Edin Terzic had already signalled serious concern at the post-match press conference in Valencia, stating that the injury 'doesn't look good.' The official confirmation on Monday validated those fears.

A Costly Blow to Bilbao's Attack

Although Guruzeta had yet to find the net in the current campaign, his importance to the Basque club cannot be understated. He was Athletic's top scorer in the 2025-26 season, registering 10 goals in 35 La Liga appearances and adding five more in seven Champions League matches. His absence now leaves Inaki Williams and Maroan Sannadi as the primary specialist strikers in Athletic's first-team squad. Notably, Sannadi himself only returned to fitness this summer after missing a significant portion of last season with a knee problem of his own.

A Grim Pattern at San Mamés

Guruzeta's injury is the fourth ACL tear suffered by an Athletic Bilbao player within the past year, raising questions about workload management and pitch conditions encountered during away fixtures. Benat Prados and Unai Egiluz suffered the same injury during the previous campaign, while Manex Lozano sustained an ACL tear in February while on loan at Racing Santander. The cluster of serious ligament injuries at a single club over such a short period is a growing concern for the club's medical and coaching staff.

Vivian's Return Adds Some Relief

In a rare piece of positive news for Athletic, defender Dani Vivian addressed the groin issue that had sidelined him for the opening seven games of the season and cost him a berth at last summer's World Cup. The 27-year-old returned to full training towards the end of September, following months of rehabilitation for an adductor insertion injury that first surfaced in January. Vivian said he had initially chosen to play through the discomfort in order to support the club during a difficult run of results — a decision that ultimately prolonged his recovery.

What Comes Next

Guruzeta is expected to undergo surgery within days, placing his return well into the second half of the 2026-27 season at the earliest. Athletic Bilbao will need to address their depleted attacking options, with their Champions League commitments adding further pressure on a squad already stretched by injury.