Gorka Guruzeta

Gorka Guruzeta Rodríguez (born 12 September 1996) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a striker for La Liga club Athletic Bilbao.

Career
Born in San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Basque Country, Guruzeta joined Athletic Bilbao's youth setup in 2014, from Antiguoko KE. He made his debut as a senior with the farm team in the 2014–15 campaign, in Tercera División.

On 18 December 2015, profiting from the injury of Asier Villalibre, Guruzeta was promoted to the reserves in Segunda División. He made his professional debut three days later, starting in a 1–1 home draw against CD Lugo.

Guruzeta made his first-team – and La Liga – debut on 27 August 2018, replacing Markel Susaeta late into a 2–2 home draw against SD Huesca; he went on to appear in eight more league and Copa del Rey matches during the campaign, with one goal in a cup fixture away to Sevilla FC (Athletic won on the night but lost the tie on aggregate). In April 2019, back playing for the B-team in the third tier, he suffered a serious injury, rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament of his right knee. He made a successful recovery but did not play again for the first team.

On 1 September 2020, Guruzeta terminated his contract with the Lions, and signed a three-year contract with second division newcomers CE Sabadell FC just hours later, with Athletic retaining an option until 2022 to buy him back. He scored his first professional goal on 22 November, netting his team's second in a 3–1 home success over UD Las Palmas. On 16 July 2021, after suffering relegation, Guruzeta signed for SD Amorebieta.

On July 3, 2022, he returned to Athletic Club, signing a two-year contract. On August 29, he scored his first La Liga goals, by netting a brace in a 4–0 thrashing of Cádiz at the Nuevo Mirandilla. On November 8, in his first start, he scored a brace in a 3–0 win against Real Valladolid at San Mamés.

On 19 August 2023, he scored his first goal in the 2023–24 season in a 2–0 away victory against Osasuna, combining with Nico Williams as he would several more times over the subsequent months. On 24 January 2024, he scored after 36 seconds at San Mamés in a 4–2 victory against Barcelona after extra time in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals. On 20 February, he renewed his contract with Athletic until 2028. On 29 February, he scored the third goal against Atlético Madrid in the Copa semi-final second leg. On 6 April, he started in the Copa final against Mallorca, in which his club won the trophy in a penalty shootout after a 1–1 draw. Although he missed the last five matches of the season after contracting appendicitis which required immediate surgery (depriving him of the chance to increase his total towards his pursuit of the Zarra Trophy), he concluded the 2023–24 campaign as the top scorer for his club, and also set a new personal best in La Liga by scoring 14 goals.

Personal life
Guruzeta's father, Xabier, was also a footballer; a central defender, he mainly represented Real Sociedad during his career. His younger brother Jon, who plays as a right winger, also began his career at Antiguoko before agreeing to join Athletic Bilbao's cantera in 2018.

Honours
Athletic Bilbao
 * Copa del Rey: 2023–24

Individual
 * La Liga Play of the Month: August 2023 (with Nico Williams)