Oihan Sancet Scout Report: Athletic Club’s Goal-Scoring No. 8

Summary: A pure product of Athletic Club’s Lezama academy, Oihan Sancet now carries a contract through 2032 and wears the number 8 shirt as an attacking midfielder built for a job few his position actually do well: arriving late into the box and finishing. GegenSports breaks down his career, 2026-27 numbers, tactical role, Süper Lig fit and the realistic (or unrealistic) price scenarios sitting behind his reported €80m release clause.

Scout Verdict in Brief

Oihan Sancet is a Lezama graduate, born in 2000, whose 1.88m frame makes him unusually big for a midfielder tasked with combination play. What sets him apart isn’t playmaking in the traditional “number 10” sense — it’s a knack for finishing: a career-best 15 league goals in 2024-25 earned him La Liga’s Player of the Month award for February 2025. Inside Ernesto Valverde’s fluid 4-3-3, Sancet operates in the “pockets” between opposition lines, turning quickly to either shoot, carry, or slide a pass into the box. The flip side has become impossible to ignore since the second half of 2025-26: recurring hamstring problems have limited his 2026-27 start to a handful of appearances. With his deal running to 2032 and a release clause reported at €80m, this report treats him less as a live transfer target for Süper Lig clubs and more as a stylistic reference point — the kind of profile a technical staff might use to define what to look for.

From Pamplona to San Mamés

Born on 25 April 2000 in Pamplona, Navarre, Sancet actually started out in CA Osasuna’s youth ranks before Athletic Club signed him for Lezama at 15, in 2015 — a move that fits within the club’s Basque-eligibility catchment, which stretches into Navarre. He debuted for Bilbao Athletic (the reserve side) on 25 August 2018 against Tudelano in Segunda División B, but a torn ACL in his left knee that September derailed his first taste of senior football; he didn’t return until March 2019. Two reserve-team seasons brought 24 appearances and 7 goals before his first-team breakthrough: a substitute appearance away at Barcelona on 16 August 2019, in a match Athletic won 1-0. His first La Liga goal followed on 27 June 2020, against Mallorca.

The moment that put him on wider radars came on 3 January 2022 — a hat-trick away at Osasuna, his former club, in a 3-1 win that was Athletic’s first La Liga hat-trick since Aritz Aduriz back in 2016. He added another three-goal outing against Cádiz (4-1) in February 2023. His signature moment, though, was the 2024 Copa del Rey final: his equaliser against Mallorca helped drag Athletic to a penalty-shootout title, the club’s first major trophy in decades. A month before that, in April 2023, he’d already committed his long-term future by signing an eight-year extension through 2032. The following season, 2024-25, he set a personal scoring record with 15 league goals and picked up the League’s Player of the Month award in February 2025.

Profile & Biography

Career & Transfer History

Sancet has never left Athletic Club on a permanent or loan deal — his entire senior career, bar the 2015 youth move, has been spent under one roof, making him one of the rarer “one-club” candidates left in the modern game. Throughout 2025 and into 2026, press outlets repeatedly linked several Premier League clubs — Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal, Aston Villa and Newcastle United among the names mentioned — with a move triggering his €80m clause. As of this report, none of that has translated into a confirmed bid; it remains transfer speculation.

Season Statistics

Note: 2026-27 numbers are from an early-season sample and may vary slightly between data providers.

FotMob’s early 2026-27 percentiles place Sancet at the 70th for shot attempts among La Liga attacking midfielders, 38th for goal output (still catching up on a small sample), but a striking 84th for aerial duels won — hard evidence that his height translates into genuine box threat. His successful dribble rate sits at 78.6%, pass accuracy at 76.5%, both suggesting he still retains the ball well when carrying it forward under pressure.

Playing Style Breakdown

Understanding Sancet starts with understanding Athletic’s system. Under Ernesto Valverde, Athletic build around a fluid 4-3-3 that can morph into something closer to a 1-4-2-4, and Sancet is given license to occupy the “pockets” — the gaps between the opposition’s midfield and defensive lines — receive on the half-turn, and immediately look to attack the goal, whether by shot, carry, or pass.

A quick glossary for readers less familiar with the terminology: half-space refers to the vertical corridor between the touchline zone and the central lane; Sancet typically arrives there via underlapping runs from the inside rather than overlapping from wide, letting him slip into the box without dragging a marker with him. Calling him “box-to-box” is only half accurate — his defensive recovery distances are shorter than a genuine deep-lying midfielder’s, but the sheer volume of forward sprinting he does makes him a high-workload profile regardless. His press resistance — the ability to retain possession and progress play while under direct pressure — reads as solidly above average: that 76.5% pass accuracy and 78.6% dribble success both suggest composure on the ball even when closed down, though the sample remains small this early in the season.

Total Football Analysis’s coverage of Valverde’s Athletic describes Sancet as a player who keeps three options alive at once when he receives between the lines — shoot, pass, or carry — historically in tandem with Iker Muniain occupying similar spaces; that partnership has since been redistributed across Beñat Prados in a similar advanced role and Íñigo Ruiz de Galarreta dictating tempo from the pivot. Physically, his 1.88m frame turns set pieces and cut-back crosses into real weapons — the 84th-percentile aerial win rate backs that up statistically.

Two recurring issues temper the picture. First, the hamstring problems that began surfacing in the second half of 2025-26 point to the physical cost of a game built on repeated explosive sprints. Second, his output swings hard season to season — 15 goals in 2024-25, just 4 in 2025-26 — which positions him less as a guaranteed annual scorer and more as a player capable of carrying a team single-handedly at his peak, but whose consistency remains a work in progress.

Strengths

• Box timing and aerial power: His 1.88m frame and instinct for arriving late turn corners and cut-backs into genuine goal threats (84th-percentile aerial win rate).
• Finishing instinct: 15 league goals in 2024-25 is an unusually high return for a midfielder; his career includes two hat-tricks, against Osasuna in 2022 and Cádiz in 2023.
• Half-space reading: One of the key pieces in Valverde’s structure for finding and exploiting gaps between opposition lines with a quick turn toward goal.
• Big-match temperament: His equaliser in the 2024 Copa del Rey final shows he can shoulder responsibility under pressure.
• Ball-carrying: A 78.6% successful dribble rate reflects his ability to shield and advance the ball under pressure.

Weaknesses

• Injury history and durability risk: Recurring hamstring issues late in 2025-26 and into 2026-27 highlight the physical toll of his explosive movement profile.
• Season-to-season output swings: The drop from 15 goals to 4 raises legitimate questions about consistency.
• Limited defensive contribution: His advanced positioning means lower recovery distances and tackling volume than a genuine box-to-box midfielder.

GegenSports Scout Rating

On GegenSports’s original 100-point qualitative scale, Oihan Sancet rates at 83/100. That figure blends box efficiency and aerial power (90/100), finishing instinct (85/100), half-space reading and final-third movement (82/100), press resistance (75/100), defensive contribution (60/100), and durability (58/100). This is an original GegenSports scouting assessment built on public statistical data and tactical observation — not an official club, league, or federation rating.

Comparable Players

• Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid): Shares a similar physical profile — tall, aerobic — plus a habit of arriving late into the box and winning aerial duels; Bellingham edges him on overall output volume and productivity outside the box.
• Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool): A comparable mix of midfield-to-box running, long-range shot quality, and positional versatility.
• Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United): Shares the character trait of a midfielder who directly drives a team’s goal output and takes responsibility in big moments; Fernandes’s assist numbers run higher.

Süper Lig Fit

Turkish clubs — Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray in particular — have recently shown a preference for advanced “8s” who get license to attack the box from midfield behind a double pivot. Sancet’s half-space reading, aerial power and finishing instinct are exactly the qualities such a system would look to exploit, and his physicality should translate reasonably well to the Süper Lig’s more combative overall tempo. That said, this is purely a stylistic assessment: with a contract running to 2032, an €80m release clause, and a place in the senior Spain squad, there is no concrete transfer link between Sancet and the Süper Lig at the time of writing — read this section as a profile-fit exercise, not a realistic transfer forecast.

Suitable Turkish Clubs

• Fenerbahçe: A squad structure built around freeing an attacking midfielder ahead of a double pivot, with European rotation needs, offers a strong stylistic match — though budget realities keep this theoretical for now.
• Galatasaray: A system built on wide players cutting inside to create space would give Sancet’s half-space movement a natural function.
• Beşiktaş: A midfielder with genuine aerial threat could add a fresh set-piece outlet; again, the release clause makes this an unrealistic near-term scenario.

Note: the above is a tactical/stylistic assessment only — no confirmed transfer approach from any Turkish club exists as of this report.

Ideal Teammates

Sancet’s effectiveness grows alongside wide players who stretch the pitch and cut inside (the Nico Williams / Iñaki Williams type at Athletic), a pivot who circulates the ball quickly and accurately (the role Íñigo Ruiz de Galarreta currently fills), and a versatile second advanced midfielder to share attacking duties (a Beñat Prados-type profile). That structure partially frees him from defensive duty and increases how often he can arrive in the box.

Adaptation Score

On GegenSports’s qualitative adaptation scale, Sancet rates as low-risk on language/culture (coming from Spanish club football with international cup experience) and medium-to-high on physical-league adaptation, given his aerial power and frame. Representative adaptation score out of 100: 76/100 — the real uncertainty here isn’t sporting fit, but the realism of the contractual and budget conditions required to make any move happen.

Cost / Value Scenarios

His market value sits in a €35-59m range depending on the source, while the reported €80m release clause represents the real cost of prising him away. Both figures sit well above what Süper Lig clubs typically budget for a central midfielder. A realistic value scenario would require (a) his contract running down toward its final years, (b) his injury record pulling his valuation down, or (c) the player himself actively seeking a new challenge — none of which currently applies. Treat this section as scenario analysis, not a realistic transfer expectation.

Development Potential

At 26, entering the physical and tactical peak of his career, Sancet’s key development area is output consistency: if he can treat his 2024-25 tally of 15 goals as a baseline rather than a ceiling, a more regular place in the senior Spain squad becomes realistic. Disciplined injury management is the single variable most likely to shape how productive the rest of his career turns out to be.

Injuries & Durability

After fully recovering from the torn ACL that sidelined him early in his career (2018), Sancet went a long stretch without a serious injury before recurring hamstring issues surfaced in the second half of 2025-26 — problems that kept him out of the squad late in the campaign and limited his minutes at the start of 2026-27. Recurring hamstring injuries typically signal a workload risk tied to repeated explosive sprinting and sharp changes of direction, and usually call for close adherence to physiotherapy and load-management protocols.

Non-EU Player Status & UK Work Permit Analysis

As a Spanish national and senior Spain international, Sancet would comfortably clear the threshold under the UK’s Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) points system in the event of a move to an English club — his senior caps and regular La Liga minutes both carry positive weight in that assessment. In a Süper Lig scenario, he would count against the standard foreign-player quota as an EU/Spanish passport holder, with no special exemption applying.

Suitable Leagues

• Premier League (England): The most realistic alternative league given the reported concrete interest (Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Newcastle United) and straightforward GBE clearance.
• Serie A (Italy): A league that values tactical discipline and midfield game intelligence could suit his half-space-driven profile.
• Bundesliga (Germany): A high-tempo, transition-heavy league structure could complement his box-arrival instincts.
• La Liga (current league): Where he already plays, under contract to 2032, and where the stylistic fit is naturally strongest.

Sporting Director Summary

Oihan Sancet offers a rare commodity for a modern midfielder: genuine goal output, driven by box timing, aerial power and finishing instinct, proven by his 15-goal 2024-25 season. Any sporting director’s honest assessment, though, has to include: (1) building a concrete transfer plan around a player under contract to 2032 with an €80m release clause isn’t realistic today; (2) recurring hamstring problems demand thorough medical due diligence before any serious interest is pursued; (3) this report is intended as a profile-fit and squad-planning reference, not a short-term transfer recommendation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Oihan Sancet?
A Spanish attacking midfielder born in 2000, a product of Athletic Club’s own academy, who wears the number 8 shirt.

What position does Oihan Sancet play?
Primarily attacking midfielder — an advanced “8” under Valverde who pushes into the box.

What is Oihan Sancet’s market value?
Roughly €35-59m depending on the source; these are estimated figures.

What is Oihan Sancet’s release clause?
Widely reported at €80m; the current figure should be verified against official club confirmation.

When does Oihan Sancet’s contract expire?
30 June 2032, with Athletic Club.

Does Oihan Sancet play for the national team?
Yes, for Spain’s senior side (4 caps, 1 goal), after coming through the U18 and U21 levels.

Is Oihan Sancet currently injured?
He suffered a serious knee injury (ACL tear) in 2018, and has dealt with recurring hamstring issues since the second half of 2025-26.

Could Oihan Sancet move to the Süper Lig?
No concrete, confirmed link exists as of this report; the Süper Lig section here is a stylistic fit exercise only.

What is Oihan Sancet’s greatest strength?
Box timing, aerial power, and a finishing instinct that’s unusually strong for a midfielder.

Which players is Oihan Sancet comparable to?
Jude Bellingham, Dominik Szoboszlai and Bruno Fernandes, based on physical profile and box output.

Which clubs have been linked with Oihan Sancet?
Press reports have named several Premier League clubs — Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal, Aston Villa and Newcastle United — though none of it has been confirmed as an official bid.

Related GegenSports Content

• Íñigo Ruiz de Galarreta Scout Report: Athletic Club’s Experienced Pivot
• Hugo Rincón Scout Report: Athletic Club’s Rising Right-Back
• Aymeric Laporte Scout Report: Athletic Club’s Veteran Centre-Back
• Daniel Vivián Scout Report: Athletic Club’s Homegrown Enforcer
• Yeray Álvarez Scout Report: Athletic Club’s Veteran Centre-Back

Sources

• Athletic Club official website (athletic-club.eus)
• Wikipedia — Oihan Sancet biography and career record
• FotMob — 2026-27 season stats, percentile data, market value
• FBref — early-season advanced metrics (xG, xAG, SCA)
• RotoWire — 2025-26 season summary
• Total Football Analysis — tactical coverage of Ernesto Valverde’s Athletic Club
• Fichajes.net — transfer interest reporting
• SpazioMilan / GiveMeSport / Football Whispers — release clause and Premier League interest reporting
• Soccerway — injury history data