Bilbao (Spain), Nov 21 (IANS) Athletic Bilbao forward Iker Muniain signed a contract extension tying him to the La Liga club until 2024, the club announced on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old former Spain international has scored 51 goals in 359 appearances, and has spent his entire career with Bilbao, joining the first team in 2009 after coming up through the youth ranks.

"Athletic Club and the player have agreed to eliminate the possibility of an early rescission of the contract by paying a termination clause," the club detailed in a statement.

Muniain was sidelined for six months last season due to a knee injury he sustained on September 28, last year during Bilbao's 1-0 loss to Ukranian club Zorya Luhansk in the Europa League.

The forward's small stature - he stands just under 1.7 meters (5 feet 5 inches) - had led international media to dub him the "Spanish Messi," as the two are around the same height.

--IANS kk/sed