[SPORTS News] FIFA approves footballer, Aymeric Laporte’s switch to Spain from France ahead of Euros

Manchester City defender, Aymeric Laporte has switched his international allegiance from France to Spain ahead of Euro 2020 this summer.

 

Laporte has previously played for the France Under-21 international team but has never represented the senior side.

 

FIFA confirmed the switch on Friday, May 14, that it had approved the switch after the French Football Federation consented to the Royal Spanish Football Federation’s request, meaning Laporte is available to feature for Spain next month.

 

“The player Aymeric Laporte is eligible to play for the representative teams of the RFEF – Spanish Football Association with immediate effect,” it said in a statement.

 

The Spanish government said on Tuesday that it had given Laporte citizenship, paving way for him to represent Spain at the Euros.

 

Laporte, who was born in Agen, France, has never played for the France senior team despite making over 50 appearances for its youth teams.

 

He is also of Basque descent through his great-grandparents and rose up the ranks at Athletic Bilbao, making him eligible to represent Spain.