What position does Aymeric Laporte play?

Aymeric Laporte plays as Centre-Back for Athletic Club. Under Edin Terzić, Athletic set up in a 4-2-3-1 that turns into a 3-4-3 structure in possession. Laporte is the left-sided centre-back — reported as the only pure left-footer in the defence — and the leader of the back line, both in organising the block and in starting attacks.

What are Laporte's key football skills?

Positional Play: Laporte understands spacing in build-up — where to stand to create the passing angle and how to move the ball to unlock the free man. Half-Space Passing: His left foot lets him feed the left half-space directly — finding attacking midfielders and wingers between the lines from deep. Low Block Defending: Strong when defending the box — positioning, organising and winning headers when the team defends deep. Press Resistance: Calm under pressure and comfortable receiving on the half-turn, though less mobile against an intense press than younger defenders.

Centre-Back🇪🇸 Spanish·Athletic Club·b. 1994

Aymeric Laporte

The left-footed centre-back who sets the tempo from the back — calm, precise distribution and the experience to organise a defensive line.

Playing Style Summary

Laporte is a left-footed, ball-playing centre-back whose main value is his distribution. Playing on the left of a centre-back pairing, his left foot opens passing angles into the left half-space and down the left flank that right-footed defenders struggle to find. Defensively he relies on positioning, reading of the game and experience rather than recovery speed. Back at Athletic Club since September 2025, he is the leader of their back line.

Defining Traits

Left-Footed Distribution

As a natural left-footer on the left of the pairing, Laporte can play forward on his strong side with his body open — into the left half-space, down the line or diagonally across the pitch.

Calm in Possession

He controls the tempo of build-up, choosing when to circulate, when to carry and when to play forward, and rarely panics when pressed.

Positional Reading

Laporte defends by anticipating — covering the space behind his full-back, stepping in to intercept and organising the players around him.

Leadership

A senior figure for club and country, he organises the defensive line and sets the standard for the younger defenders around him.

Strengths

Left-footed passing range from centre-back
Composure and tempo control in build-up
Positional intelligence and anticipation
Experience and organisation of the defensive line
Reliable in the air from set pieces and crosses

Limitations

Recovery pace is no longer elite, which makes him vulnerable to quick runners when defending a lot of space
Less effective in a very high line that relies on centre-backs sprinting back into space
Can be drawn into risky passes in build-up when he forces the forward option

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