Hugo Rincón Lumbreras (born 27 January 2003) is a Spanish footballer who plays as a right-back for club Athletic Bilbao.
Club career Born in Valtierra, Navarre, Rincón began his career in the CA Osasuna youth system before joining Athletic Bilbao in 2018 at the age of 15, becoming the latest in a long list of players to make the switch from Pamplona to Biscay (the most recent involving another right back from the same district, Jesús Areso, one year earlier).El Athletic ficha a Hugo Rincón, cadete de Osasuna de primer año [Athletic signs Hugo Rincón, a first-year cadet from Osasuna], La Cantera de Lezama, 19 May 2018 (in Spanish) He made his senior debut with the club's third-tier reserve team Bilbao Athletic in May 2021 in a Segunda División B fixture against CD Tudelano in which he conceded an early penalty but otherwise put in a strong display.Hugo Rincón, el nuevo Areso [Hugo Rincón, the new Areso], Javier Beltrán, El Correo, 2 May 2021 (in Spanish) He made six more appearances for them in the following season, but spent most of the campaign with CD Basconia, the club's fifth-tier farm team.
With the departure of the older Álvaro Núñez in the summer of 2022 (Areso had returned to Osasuna a year earlier), Rincón was installed as a regular for Bilbao Athletic in the 2022–23 Primera Federación season,"Hugo Rincón lo tiene todo para enamorar a San Mamés, es hasta guapo" ["Hugo Rincón has everything to make San Mamés fall in love, he is even handsome"], Asís Martín, El Desmarque, 18 August 2022 (in Spanish) missing only one of the first 24 matches (due to a suspension following a red card) until he was injured against FC Barcelona Atlètic on 18 February 2023,0-0. El Bilbao Athletic suma otro empate que vale muy poco [0-0. Bilbao Athletic adds another draw that is worth very little], Carlos Zaballa, Mundo Deportivo, 26 February 2023 (in Spanish) missing several weeks of action as the young squad struggled against relegation. Despite this setback, due to his good performances and the uncertainty surrounding the future of the four more experienced men in his position (Óscar de Marcos, Iñigo Lekue, Ander Capa and Álex Petxarroman), it was reported in the local media that he would still take part in the next pre-season with the senior squad.El Athletic tiene hasta el 15 de junio para decidir sobre Capa [Athletic has until 15 June to decide on Capa], Javier R. Beltrán, Diario AS, 20 March 2023 (in Spanish) He had returned to full fitness by May 2023.
During the 2023–24 season, Rincón was named among the substitutes in 11 La Liga matches for Athletic but did not make his debut; instead he appeared 25 times for Bilbao Athletic, captaining the side as they bounced back to the third tier immediately by winning their Segunda Federación group, losing only twice.El Bilbao Athletic conquista el terreno perdido un año después [Bilbao Athletic conquers the lost ground a year later], Javier R. Beltrán, Diario AS, 21 April 2024 (in Spanish) On 6 August 2024, he renewed his contract with the Lions until 2028, and was loaned to Segunda División side CD Mirandés five days later.
After a strong season with Mirandés (alongside fellow loanees Urko Izeta and Unai Egiluz) in which they challenged for promotion to the top division (losing out in the play-off final), he returned to Athletic Bilbao for the 2025–26 pre-season,"Le estoy metiendo caña a Hugo Rincón para jugar juntos en el Alavés" ["I'm pushing Hugo Rincón to play together at Alavés"], Mundo Deportivo, 3 July 2025 (in Spanish)Hugo Rincón y un futuro condicionado por Jesús Areso [Hugo Rincón and a future dependant upon Jesús Areso], One Football, 13 July 2025 (in Spanish) but with Jesús Areso having re-signed to play in the same position, Rincón was loaned to fellow La Liga side Girona on 29 July 2025. He featured regularly during the campaign – half of his 33 appearances coming as a substitute – and scored once, in a 3–0 victory against his parent club at Estadi Montilivi, as the Catalans suffered relegation on the final day.
Rincón was confirmed as a senior squad member for the 2026–27 Athletic Bilbao season, being assigned jersey number 15 vacated by the retired Iñigo Lekue; he made his Liga debut for the club at San Mamés (having already played there for Girona) on 22 August 2026, coming off the bench as Athletic lost 3–1 to Sevilla FC.
International career Rincón was called up to the Basque Country national team for a friendly match against Palestine on 15 November 2025.
Personal life His cousin Pablo Ibáñez is also a footballer.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupEuropeOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsBilbao Athletic2020–21Segunda División B10———102021–22Primera Federación60———602022–23Primera Federación290———2902023–24Segunda Federación253———253Total613——00613Basconia2021–22Tercera Federación331———331Mirandés (loan)2024–25Segunda División39210—41443Athletic Bilbao2025–26La Liga00000000002026–27La Liga2000——20Total2000000020Girona (loan)2025–26La Liga33120——351Career total16873000411758
Honours Bilbao Athletic Segunda Federación (Group 2): 2023–24
References
External links