Ander Herrera terminates Boca contract, set for emotional return to boyhood club Real Zaragoza

Midfielder to Join Boyhood Club as Spiritual Leader for Promotion Push

One of Ander Herrera's business ventures alongside football is 'Semana Fantástica', a hospitality establishment in central Zaragoza that he co-owns with former teammate Pablo Alcolea. Paraphrasing that venue's name, this now marks Ander's week at Real Zaragoza — the week of his long-awaited return to the club, a move that failed in 2024 and will now see him arrive, just before turning 37 on August 14, as the spiritual leader of the project to return to the Second Division.

Since June 11, when this newspaper reported that the termination of his contract with Boca Juniors paved the way for his return to Zaragoza, the midfielder has made the most of his extended stay in Argentina for bureaucratic and family reasons. This Monday afternoon, he arrives in Madrid before heading to his home city. That will be the starting signal.

A Return Built on Conviction

In recent weeks, Ander has taken a step back from Argentina and finalized the decision to return — already practically made, with retirement being the only alternative. The club was equally clear about opening the door for him, with the conviction that was lacking two years ago and which caused the feeling of lack of affection that led Ander to renew with Athletic Bilbao.

Now, with the sporting director and technical secretariat convinced of this return, with the friendship of many club members, as well as coach Ibai Gómez — with whom he coincided at Athletic — there were no obstacles. The ownership, after what happened in 2024, raised no objection. Contractual and salary conditions were not an issue: one year at the category minimum.

Strategic Signing for Present and Future

Ander is considered a strategic signing on multiple levels:

• Present: To contribute significantly on the pitch, if his muscle injuries allow — injuries that have hampered him in recent times, especially at Boca, where he suffered up to six injuries and missed 32 games in a year and a half as a Xeneize.
• Leadership: As a dressing room guide, due to his Zaragocismo and the mentality he brings to the group.
• Future: It seems clear he will remain linked to the club once he hangs up his boots.

For now, the focus is on the present and announcing his return, which could come as early as this Tuesday. This will be the most special signing of the 10 Lalo has made this summer, with Ander becoming the eleventh.

Everything Agreed and Prepared

Everything has been discussed and agreed with the club. Lalo has already hinted that things were progressing as planned. The plan is for Ander to start preseason on the 20th with the team of his life — the club that saw him grow from the youth ranks before leaving for Athletic in 2011, in the biggest transfer of a youth academy player: €11.2 million, plus €1.5 million in training rights when he departed for Manchester United.

Ander will speak at his presentation in the coming days, explaining his feelings and also what happened in 2024, when with Víctor as coach and Cordero as sporting director, the move fell through.

"I am where I have been shown affection and importance," he said in October 2024, justifying his decision not to return and stay at Athletic.

"Sometimes in football it's better that not everything is known," he commented in May 2025, already at Boca, when asked about his frustrated return.

This time will be different. This time, Ander will fulfill the dream he never hid and proclaimed from the rooftops — returning home and ending his career in the place that gave him the opportunity to succeed. With a trajectory spanning Athletic, Manchester United, PSG, and Boca, plus being a full international, no one can dispute even an iota of his tremendous Zaragocismo.

"As sporting director, if I have a 1% chance of Ander being with us, I will do everything possible for him to be here," Lalo said on June 17 about this return.

Ibai, in his presentation, was equally clear:

"I know that the Zaragoza-Ander union will happen someday, one way or another, I am convinced of it. I think Ander can still contribute many things to a club like Real Zaragoza."

Everything has been prepared for a long time. The exact and expected steps have been taken. The outcome is now.

Related: Ander Herrera's Career Path

Born in Bilbao on August 14, 1989, but raised in Zaragoza — the city where he will settle after retirement — Ander Herrera started at Amistad before arriving at the Ciudad Deportiva as a youth player. He made his professional debut in 2009 at Real Zaragoza in the Second Division under Marcelino, and in 2011 was transferred to Athletic Bilbao. From there, he moved to England for five seasons at Manchester United, then to France with PSG, and finally to Argentina with Boca Juniors.