Athletic swoop for San Jose

Athletic Bilbao have agreed a deal with Liverpool to sign on-loan defender Mikel San Jose on a permanent basis, the Primera Division club have announced.

San Jose’s contract with Athletic will tie him to the Basque club until June 30, 2015 and has a buy-out clause of €30m.

The 20-year-old defender rejoined Athletic on loan from Liverpool last summer - with an option to buy – and played 25 league games for Joaquin Caparros’ team, helping them finish eighth in the standings.

Liverpool signed San Jose on a three-year contract from Athletic in 2007 for £270,000.