Entertainment

Ander Herrera returns to boyhood club Real Zaragoza to play for free

The 37-year-old midfielder has returned to Spain's third division after 15 years away, donating his salary to the club's foundation.

Updated Aug 27, 2026 · 08:23 UTC1 reports

The short version

Midfielder Ander Herrera has joined Spanish third-division side Real Zaragoza on a free transfer from Boca Juniors.
The 37-year-old is playing without a salary, opting to donate his earnings to the club's foundation.
Herrera spent 15 years away from Zaragoza playing for clubs including Athletic Club, Manchester United, Paris St-Germain, and Boca Juniors.
His goal is to help revitalize his hometown team, which has fallen into the third tier after being relegated from La Liga in 2013.

Ander Herrera has returned to his boyhood club Real Zaragoza on a free transfer after 15 years away.[BBC News]
Herrera is playing for free and donating his entire salary to Real Zaragoza's foundation.[BBC News]
Real Zaragoza currently competes in the Spanish third division, having suffered 13 seasons of declining finishes after being relegated from La Liga in the 2012-13 season.[BBC News]
During his career, Herrera won the Europa League, FA Cup, and multiple league titles while playing for Athletic Club, Manchester United, Paris St-Germain, and Boca Juniors.[BBC News]

Herrera has expressed interest in remaining in football after his playing career, potentially working with young players or coaching, but says he has not yet determined his exact future role.[BBC News]