1. Early Life and Youth Career
Ander Astralaga's early football career began at a local club in his hometown, leading to his development within the prestigious youth academies of Athletic Bilbao and FC Barcelona's La Masia.
1.1. Birth and Early Football Beginnings
Astralaga was born on 3 March 2004, in Berango, Biscay, a province within the Basque Country, Spain. He began his football journey at the local club Karabigane.
1.2. Youth Development at Athletic Bilbao and La Masia
In 2014, Astralaga joined the youth academy of Athletic Bilbao, a prominent club known for its strong emphasis on developing local talent. Four years later, in the summer of 2018, he made a move to La Masia, the renowned youth academy of FC Barcelona. Upon joining La Masia, he was integrated into the U16 team. During his time at La Masia, Astralaga continued to develop his skills and progress through the club's youth system, preparing him for professional football.
2. Professional Club Career
Astralaga's professional career saw him rise through the ranks at FC Barcelona, from their B team to receiving call-ups for the senior squad.
2.1. FC Barcelona Atlètic Debut and Development
Astralaga made his debut for Barça Atlètic, the club's reserve team, on 27 March 2022. This first appearance was in a match against Betis Deportivo (also known as Real Betis B) in the Primera División RFEF. FC Barcelona Atlètic secured a 2-1 victory in that match. He continued to develop and contribute to the B team in subsequent seasons. During the 2022-23 season, he also made one appearance in the 2023 Primera Federación play-offs.
2.2. Senior Team Progression and Contract
Astralaga's progression led to his first inclusion in the FC Barcelona senior team's match day squad on 28 January 2023, for a La Liga game against Girona FC, though he did not make an appearance. In April 2023, he reached an agreement with FC Barcelona to extend his contract, securing his future with the club until June 2025. Later that year, on 22 December 2023, Astralaga made his unofficial senior team debut in Dallas during a friendly match against Mexican club Club America, marking a significant step in his career.
3. International Career
Ander Astralaga has represented Spain at various youth international levels, showcasing his talent on the national stage.
He made his debut for the Spain U18 squad on 10 October 2021, in a match against Romania U18. He played a total of six matches for the U18 team before being promoted to the Spain U19 squad. His debut for the U19 team occurred on 29 August 2022, in a friendly against Israel U19, which ended in a 0-0 draw. Astralaga also participated in the 2023 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. In his third match for the U19 team on 10 July 2023, he played against Norway U19 in the U19 European Championship, which also concluded with a 0-0 draw.
4. Personal Life
Ander Astralaga comes from a family with a strong connection to football. His younger sister, Eunate Astralaga, born in 2005, is also a footballer and plays as a goalkeeper. As of 2024, she was part of the Athletic Club Femenino B team and represented the Spain women's under-19 team.
5. Career Statistics
This section details Ander Astralaga's professional club career statistics, including appearances and goals across various competitions.
5.1. Club
| Club | Season | League | Copa del Rey | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Barcelona B | 2021-22 | Primera División RFEF | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2022-23 | Primera Federación | 2 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |||
| 2023-24 | Primera Federación | 16 | 0 | - | - | - | 16 | 0 | ||||
| 2024-25 | Primera Federación | 4 | 0 | - | - | - | 4 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 0 | ||
| Barcelona | 2024-25 | La Liga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | |
| Career total | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 0 | ||
6. Honours
Barcelona
- Supercopa de España: 2025