Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta Etxeberria (born 6 August 1993) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for La Liga club Athletic Bilbao.
Club career Born in Eibar, Gipuzkoa, Ruiz de Galarreta joined Athletic Bilbao's youth system in 2003, aged 10. On 14 December 2011, while still considered a youth squad player, he made his debut with the first team, coming on as a substitute for Borja Ekiza in the 88th minute of a 4–2 away loss against Paris Saint-Germain FC in that season's UEFA Europa League; during his first year, however, he almost exclusively played with the reserves in the Segunda División B.
Ruiz de Galarreta made his second appearance for the main squad on 2 August 2012, again in the Europa League but now against NK Slaven Belupo (27 minutes played, 3–1 home win). He played his first La Liga game 17 days later, replacing Gaizka Toquero at half-time of an eventual 3–5 home defeat to Real Betis.
During a match with the B side against Lleida Esportiu on 21 October 2012, Ruiz de Galarreta ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament on his left knee, being sidelined for the remainder of the campaign. For 2013–14 he was loaned to CD Mirandés of Segunda División, where in a home game against CD Numancia on 27 October he suffered the same injury. Previously, on 8 September, he scored his first goal as a senior, the only in the away victory over Real Madrid Castilla.
The following years, Ruiz de Galarreta played with Real Zaragoza and CD Leganés on loan, helping the latter club to achieve a first-ever promotion to the top flight in 2016. He continued to compete in the second division subsequently, representing Numancia, FC Barcelona Atlètic and UD Las Palmas.
On 2 September 2019, Ruiz de Galarreta signed a four-year contract with RCD Mallorca in the top tier, though it was agreed he would remain on loan at Las Palmas for the upcoming season. He achieved another promotion with the former in 2020–21, contributing 29 appearances to this feat.
Ruiz de Galarreta returned to his first club Athletic on 7 June 2023, on a two-year deal. He scored his first goal for them on 5 November, opening a 3–2 away victory over Villarreal CF.
In May 2025, Ruiz de Galarreta extended his contract until 2027.
International career Ruiz de Galarreta started representing Spain at under-17 level, appearing in 2010 UEFA European Championship qualifiers against Faroe Islands and Romania and two friendlies with Portugal. He also played for the under-18s and the under-19s.
Ruiz de Galarreta was called up to the Basque Country national team for a friendly against Palestine on 15 November 2025. He featured the second half of the 3–0 win at the San Mamés Stadium.
Career statistics
+Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCopa del ReyContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsBilbao Athletic2011–12Segunda División B250———2502012–13Segunda División B30———30Total280000000280Athletic Bilbao2011–12La Liga000010—102012–13La Liga300050—802013–14La Liga0000——002014–15La Liga0000——002015–16La Liga0000——00Total3000600090Mirandés (loan)2013–14Segunda División11100——111Zaragoza (loan)2014–15Segunda División37110—30411Leganés (loan)2015–16Segunda División20121——222Numancia2016–17Segunda División37210——382Barcelona B2017–18Segunda División271———271Las Palmas2018–19Segunda División35200——352Las Palmas (loan)2019–20Segunda División33000——330Mallorca2020–21Segunda División29010——3002021–22La Liga22040——2602022–23La Liga30020——320Total810700000880Athletic Bilbao2023–24La Liga29160——3512024–25La Liga26010130004002025–26La Liga3414070104612026–27La Liga5000——50Total942110200101262Career total406102212604045811
Honours Athletic Bilbao Copa del Rey: 2023–24
References
External links