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Athletic list Elene Gurtubay as a forward. When the club announced her first-team debut, however, they described her as a midfielder. Spain also use her centrally.
There is no need to resolve the contradiction. Both labels describe part of her game.
Gurtubay can influence play away from the box and still finish close to goal. She receives, turns, carries the ball and supports the attack. What distinguishes her is not that she occupies an unusual position, but that she connects areas often assigned to different players.
Reaching Lezama from outside
Born in Bilbao in 2007, Gurtubay began playing for San Ignacio before continuing her development at Bizkerre. She progressed through the youth side, reserve team and senior squad before joining Athletic Club in the summer of 2024.
She had not spent years moving through the age groups at Lezama. She arrived after developing elsewhere and progressed quickly.
In her first season with the reserves, she made 26 appearances and scored five goals. On 7 December 2025, she made her first-team debut. She started against Levante rather than being handed a token appearance late in the game.
She ended the campaign with 21 first-team appearances —18 in Liga F, two in the Copa de la Reina and one in the Supercopa— and one goal. She also played eight matches and scored twice for the reserves.
In just two seasons, she went from arriving at Lezama to becoming a regular presence in the first team.
Between midfield and the box
Gurtubay can drop deeper to offer a passing option and receive on the half-turn. She is comfortable using both feet, can turn when space opens and has the power to carry the ball forward.
Her influence grows as the move develops. After becoming involved in the build-up, she continues her run and looks for more advanced positions. She can begin a possession as a midfielder and finish it in an area usually occupied by a forward.
At 18, she does not need to be confined to one position. Her challenge will be to turn that range into a settled role within the first team.
More room to influence
The Women’s Under-19 EURO has not introduced Gurtubay, but it has provided a measure of her progress.
She was already part of the Spain squad that won the tournament in 2025, although her role was limited. One year later, she returned with a season of Liga F experience behind her and a greater presence within the team.
Her goal against Austria showed one of her main qualities. Gurtubay supported the attack, reached the edge of the box and collected the rebound from Rosalía Domínguez’s shot to score Spain’s second goal. She did not need to remain close to the area to arrive there at the right moment.
The tournament has shown how much she has grown. Beyond it, the challenge will be to turn that presence into continuity at Athletic.
Her final position can wait. Her place in professional football is already taking shape.