Bilbao (Spain): Athletic Bilbao renewed the contract of defender Yeray Alvarez until June 2022, adding a buy-out clause of 30 million euros ($32 million), the club announced on Thursday.

Alvarez began his career in the youth team of Athletic Bilbao and was promoted this season to the first team, earning a regular place in the starting line-up as a centre-back, next to Aymeric Laporte,reports Efe.

It was revealed that Alvarez had testicular cancer in December 2016, which he has overcome after undergoing surgery and taking a period to convalesce.

He was able to return to the field on Saturday as starter in La Liga match against Barcelona in Camp Nou.

--IANS