Athletic preseason: Five B-team players called into first-team preparations as Terzic begins tenure
Athletic Bilbao preseason begins with five reserve graduates invited to the first-team programme, including youngsters Gift and Johaneko who will be new to the senior summer sessions. The arrivals underline coach Dušan Terzic’s early squad planning and come as several internationals delay their return due to World Cup involvement.
Athletic will start its preseason on Monday with five players promoted from the reserve ranks joining first-team training as part of a build-up overseen by newly appointed coach Dušan Terzic. Three of the five have already integrated into some routines with the senior group, while two — Gift and Johaneko — are fresh additions to the club’s official summer sessions. The club’s early call-ups are intended to accelerate squad depth and examine young options ahead of competitive demands.
Five reserve graduates named for Athletic’s opening sessions
The five players summoned from the B-team mix experience with potential, and the club has decided to test them in a senior training environment. The group includes a mix of positions: a goalkeeper, a central defender, a versatile full-back and two attacking profiles. Their presence in the opening week will provide Terzic and his staff with more options and a closer look at who can step up this season.
Promoting youth players to preseason is a familiar pathway at Athletic, but the number and makeup of these call-ups suggest a targeted strategy to refresh squad areas with homegrown or recently acquired talent. The coaching staff will use the training camp to evaluate technical fit, physical readiness and tactical understanding. Performance in the first weeks often determines who remains with the senior group for the remainder of the preseason.
Terzic to be presented at San Mamés ahead of preparation
Dušan Terzic is scheduled to be formally introduced at San Mamés on Tuesday, marking his first official appearance as the club’s head coach. His presentation will precede the start of formal training sessions and give supporters a first opportunity to hear his priorities for the season. Club officials have indicated that the initial training week will focus on conditioning, tactical foundations and integrating younger players.
Terzic inherits a squad that will be partially depleted for the opening phase because several internationals are still on World Cup duty. The coach’s early emphasis on reserve players is therefore both practical and strategic, creating continuity in on-field work while senior stars complete their international commitments. The next few weeks will be important for establishing the routines and culture Terzic expects to implement.
Johaneko: versatile full-back with Girondins background
Johaneko, 22, joined Athletic in 2024 after his previous club, Bordeaux’s reserve structure, was dissolved and he became available on a free transfer. Primarily a right-back, he is also comfortable operating on the opposite flank, giving the coaching staff options in wide defensive areas. His technical profile and familiarity with both sides of the defense make him a logical candidate for rotation and cover during a long campaign.
Coaches value full-backs who can adapt to different roles, and Johaneko’s experience in multiple systems has been noted by club staff. While he has not been a regular starter for the senior team, his training stints with first-team players have helped acclimate him to the intensity required at top-flight level. The preseason will be his first substantial opportunity to stake a claim for inclusion in competitive matchday squads.
Gift: Liverpool-trained forward joins senior preparations
Gift, a 20-year-old forward from Navarra, arrived at the club having completed part of his development in Liverpool’s academy, and Athletic invested around €1.2 million to secure his transfer. The fee reflects the club’s belief in his potential and the projection of his physical and technical attributes for senior football. He was included in first-team squads on two occasions last season, though he did not make a competitive debut.
As a striker with training experience in England, Gift brings a combination of directness and finishing work that the coaching staff will evaluate closely. Preseason is a critical time for forwards to demonstrate link-up play, pressing intensity and goal threat against varied defensive setups. Gift’s inclusion signals the club’s intent to provide him with a platform to progress rather than keeping him exclusively at reserve level.
Santos, Monreal and Selton’s senior minutes last season
The remaining three players — goalkeeper Santos (21), defender Monreal (20) and midfielder Selton (19) — all had taste of senior action during the previous campaign and will build on that exposure in preseason. Santos operated as a third-choice option during parts of the season and has already been involved in friendly matches and first-team training cycles. He is currently attracting interest for possible loan or permanent moves, a situation that will be assessed as preseason progresses.
Monreal featured in two Copa del Rey fixtures, giving him competitive minutes at senior level that the staff view as valuable for his development. Selton participated in 13 official matches and made a notable impression during the Youth League, which helped fast-track his involvement with the senior group. Their continued integration will be monitored for readiness to contribute across the season’s various competitions.
Preseason schedule impacted by World Cup absences
The club’s opening programme will be shaped by the absence of players on international duty, with several squad members still completing World Cup commitments and therefore unavailable for the first weeks of preparation. That circumstance has made the reserve call-ups more than a stopgap; it presents a practical avenue to maintain training intensity and experiment with groupings. It also allows younger players valuable minutes to adapt to the club’s demands under the new coaching regime.
Athletic’s technical staff will balance conditioning, tactical drills and match practice to ensure returning internationals can slot back into a coherent system. The early phases typically emphasize aerobic work and basic tactical principles, progressing to more complex patterns as players return. How quickly senior internationals are reintegrated could influence selection and transfer decisions later in the window.
Pathway from the reserve to the first team under scrutiny
These preseason choices highlight the club’s persistent reliance on its development pipeline to supply first-team-ready players, a hallmark of Athletic’s model. Youngsters who earn extended time with the senior squad during summer preparation frequently find themselves on the cusp of regular involvement in competitive fixtures. Staff will use training metrics, intra-squad matches and early friendlies to judge which prospects warrant continued inclusion.
At Athletic, promoting from the reserves is both a sporting and cultural priority, and the coaching team’s evaluations will shape loan plans, contract decisions and potential reinforcements. For players like Gift and Johaneko, strong showings in these sessions could accelerate their trajectories. For Santos, Monreal and Selton, preseason offers a platform to convert last season’s intermittent minutes into a sustained role.
Athletic faces choices in the weeks ahead about squad balance, minutes allocation and potential market moves for players attracting outside interest. The club’s approach in this preseason will set the tone for the campaign and reveal how Terzic intends to blend youth with established professionals.
The integration of five reserve players into Athletic’s preseason group is a deliberate step to deepen the squad and evaluate talent as Dušan Terzic begins his tenure, and the coming weeks will determine which youngsters emerge as viable contributors when competitive action resumes.
