Anaitz Arbilla Zabala (born 15 May 1987) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a full-back or a central defender for Segunda División club Eibar.Resumen Eibar 2016/17: Arbilla, de lateral alternativo a titular polivalente (2016/17 Eibar summary: Arbilla, from backup full-back to versatile starter); Vavel, 12 June 2017 (in Spanish)Mendilbar cuenta con tres jugadores en el carril derecho de la zaga (Mendilbar has three players in the back sector's right flank); Marca, 5 July 2017 (in Spanish)
Club career Born in Pamplona, Navarre,Arbilla: "Empezar de cero en un proyecto nuevo ilusiona y emociona" (Arbilla: "Starting from scratch on a new project is exciting and inspiring"); La Vanguardia, 31 August 2016 (in Spanish) Arbilla began his senior career in 2004 with CD Basconia, Athletic Bilbao's farm team. Two years later, he progressed to the reserves in the Segunda División B and, in summer 2008, after being unable to reach the main squad due to the presence of Spanish internationals Asier del Horno and Andoni Iraola,Anaitz Arbilla, capitán del Eibar: «Ha sido un acierto traer a Joseba Etxeberria» (Anaitz Arbilla, Eibar captain: "Bringing in Joseba Etxeberria was a great move"); El Correo, 6 January 2024 (in Spanish) was loaned to another club in the Basque Country and that level, Barakaldo CF.Arbilla: "Volver al Athletic sería lo máximo" (Arbilla: "Nothing would top returning to Athletic"); Deia, 2 May 2014 (in Spanish)
Arbilla signed with Polideportivo Ejido (also in the third tier) for the 2009–10 campaign.El Poli Ejido ficha a (22 años), procedente del Barakaldo (Poli Ejido sign Arbilla (22 years), from Barakaldo) ; Join Futbol, 9 July 2009 (in Spanish) The following year, he had his first experience in the Segunda División, joining UD SalamancaArbilla será el primer fichaje del Salamanca para esta temporada (Arbilla will be Salamanca's first signing for this season); Marca, 8 July 2010 (in Spanish) and starting in 29 league games as the Castile and León team suffered relegation.Arbilla: "Estamos capacitados para llegar a la final" (Arbilla: "We have what it takes to reach the final"); La Liga, 3 March 2015 (in Spanish)
In late August 2011, Arbilla moved to another side in the second division, Hércules CF, for a €200,000 fee.El Hércules ficha a Arbilla (Hércules sign Arbilla); Marca, 24 August 2011 (in Spanish) He reached La Liga in January 2013, after arriving as a free agent at Rayo Vallecano.Llega Arbilla y se marcha Machado (Arbilla arrives and Machado leaves); Marca, 26 January 2013 (in Spanish) He made his debut in the Spanish top flight on 10 February, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–1 home win against Atlético Madrid;Rayo 2–1 Atlético: los piratas navegan hacia Europa (Rayo 2–1 Atlético: The pirates navigate towards Europe); Goal, 10 February 2013 (in Spanish) he started in eight of his 11 appearances as the Madrid outskirts club retained its league status.Liga de Fútbol Profesional Memoria 2012/2013 Annual report (Professional Football League 2012/2013 Memory Annual report); at La Liga (in Spanish)
Arbilla scored his first goal for Rayo and in the top tier on 8 February 2014, his team's second in the 4–1 victory over Málaga CF also at Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas;El Rayo cambia posesión por goles (Rayo trade possession for goals); Marca, 8 February 2014 (in Spanish) On 10 May, he was shown a straight red card in a 4–0 loss away to Villarreal CF.El Villarreal fulmina al Rayo y aún aspira a ser sexto (Villarreal obliterate Rayo and still hope to finish sixth); Público, 10 May 2014 (in Spanish)
Arbilla signed a four-year contract with RCD Espanyol on 22 May 2014.Espanyol ficha a Arbilla (El Espanyol ficha a Arbilla); Sport, 22 May 2014 (in Spanish) He established himself as a starter in the second part of his first season in Catalonia, but the second was ruined by a serious injury to the Achilles tendon of his left leg which eventually required surgery.
Now recovered but out of favour, on 30 August 2016 Arbilla agreed to a three-year deal at fellow top-division SD Eibar.Anaitz Arbilla jugará las tres próximas temporadas en SD Eibar (Anaitz Arbilla will play the following three seasons at SD Eibar); SD Eibar, 30 August 2016 (in Spanish) Having been at other clubs for a maximum of two years he became settled at the Armeros, eventually becoming their captain, and on 2 April 2026, aged 38, reached the milestone of 300 appearances spread over a decade; he celebrated this by scoring the only goal of a win at Real Sociedad B.Arbilla pone al Eibar a 300 (Arbilla puts up 300 at Eibar); Diario AS, 2 April 2026 (in Spanish)
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