Unai Simón is a Spanish goalkeeper for Athletic Club and the Spain national team. Born on 11 June 1997, he is 29 years old as of October 2026 and stands 1.90 metres tall. He wears No. 1 for Athletic Club and is under contract until 30 June 2029.
His profile rose further after Spain won the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where Simón received the Golden Glove after keeping seven clean sheets in eight matches. Away from football, he is notably private. He has publicly referred to having a girlfriend, but her identity has not been reliably confirmed, and he deliberately stays away from social media.
Quick Bio: Unai Simón
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Unai Simón Mendibil |
| Date of birth | 11 June 1997 |
| Age | 29 |
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Height | 1.90 m |
| Position | Goalkeeper |
| Current club | Athletic Club |
| Shirt number | 1 |
| National team | Spain |
| Club contract | Until 30 June 2029 |
| Relationship status | Has publicly referred to a girlfriend/partner; identity kept private |
| Major recent award | 2026 FIFA World Cup Golden Glove |
Athletic Club and the Spanish Football Federation confirm his current football status, while FIFA confirms his Golden Glove award.
Who Is Unai Simón?
Simón is Athletic Club’s first-choice goalkeeper and an established Spain international. Athletic’s official profile says he joined the Lezama academy in the 2011/12 season at age 14, progressing through the club before making his first-team debut in August 2018.
He had been loaned to Elche but returned early and was soon handed his LaLiga debut. He later became Athletic’s No. 1 and won the Zamora Trophy for the 2023/24 season.
Internationally, Simón won UEFA Euro 2024 before reaching another level of recognition at the 2026 World Cup. FIFA awarded him the Golden Glove after Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final. He conceded only once during the tournament and recorded seven clean sheets, a men’s World Cup record for a single edition.
How Old Is Unai Simón and How Tall Is He?
Unai Simón was born on 11 June 1997, making him 29 years old as of October 2026. Athletic Club lists his height as 1.90 metres, or roughly 6 feet 3 inches.
His reputation is not based on size alone. Athletic also highlights his ability with the ball at his feet, an important quality for a goalkeeper playing in teams that want to build possession from deep.
Where Is Unai Simón From?
There is a small but important inconsistency in official records. Athletic Club lists his place of birth as Gasteiz, or Vitoria-Gasteiz, in Álava, while the Spanish Football Federation’s current player profile lists Murgia.
Murgia is clearly central to Simón’s personal story. In interviews, he has referred to it as his town and spoken about growing up there. Readers who have seen both Vitoria-Gasteiz and Murgia attached to his biography are therefore encountering a difference between official profiles rather than two different footballers.
Does Unai Simón Have a Girlfriend?
Yes. Simón has publicly referred to having a girlfriend, and reporting following Spain’s 2026 World Cup victory showed him celebrating with his partner. However, he has kept her identity largely outside the public spotlight.
Her name, profession and personal background should not be treated as confirmed unless Simón or a reliable source establishes them clearly. The most accurate description is that he is in a relationship but deliberately keeps that part of his life private.
That discretion is consistent with his wider public personality. Simón has repeatedly avoided unnecessary attention around his life away from football.
Why Is Unai Simón Not on Social Media?
Simón’s absence from social media is deliberate. In a 2024 interview with La Vanguardia, he explained that he used social platforms earlier in his career but found himself reading too much commentary about his performances. Both positive and negative reactions affected him, so he chose to stop using them.
That decision also helps explain why relatively little verified personal content about him exists online. Accounts or posts claiming to reveal private details about the goalkeeper should therefore be treated cautiously unless the information comes from a reliable source.
Family, Childhood and Education
Simón has described his parents as the people who most influenced the person he became. In his La Vanguardia interview, he discussed their public-service professions but also stressed that he does not like exposing his family life unnecessarily.
He also tried to combine university study with football. Simón said he initially studied physiotherapy, but the schedule became difficult as his professional career advanced. More recent reporting in 2026 said he later moved toward business studies after putting physiotherapy aside.
The useful context is that he continued studying while progressing through Athletic’s system rather than assuming a professional football career was guaranteed.
Athletic Club Contract, Salary and Net Worth
Simón developed at Lezama, made his senior debut in 2018 and has remained one of Athletic Club’s central first-team figures. In May 2024, the club announced a four-year extension taking his contract to 30 June 2029. Athletic also confirmed that the agreement contains no release clause.
His salary is less straightforward. Capology estimates a fixed gross salary of about €8.33 million for the 2026/27 season, excluding bonuses. However, Capology explicitly labels salary figures as estimates rather than official club disclosures.
The same caution applies to net worth. An exact Unai Simón net worth has not been publicly confirmed. Online estimates vary widely, so presenting one precise figure as verified personal wealth would be misleading.
Spain Career and the 2026 World Cup
The 2026 World Cup is now one of the defining achievements of Simón’s career. Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final to win its second men’s World Cup title.
FIFA named Simón the tournament’s Golden Glove winner. He kept seven clean sheets in eight games and conceded only one goal, setting a World Cup record for clean sheets in a single edition.
As of October 2026, the Spanish Football Federation lists Simón with 69 senior international appearances. For a goalkeeper already associated with Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph and the 2023 UEFA Nations League title, the World Cup added both the biggest team honour and the most significant individual award of his career.
FAQs
What is Unai Simón’s full name?
His full name is Unai Simón Mendibil.
How old is Unai Simón?
Unai Simón is 29 years old as of October 2026. He was born on 11 June 1997.
How tall is Unai Simón?
Athletic Club lists him at 1.90 metres, approximately 6 feet 3 inches.
What number does Unai Simón wear?
He wears No. 1 for Athletic Club and plays as a goalkeeper.
Is Unai Simón married?
There is no reliable public confirmation that Simón is married. He has publicly referred to having a girlfriend or partner, whose identity he keeps private.
When does Unai Simón’s Athletic Club contract expire?
His current Athletic Club contract runs until 30 June 2029 and, according to the club, contains no release clause.
Did Unai Simón win the 2026 World Cup Golden Glove?
Yes. FIFA awarded Unai Simón the 2026 World Cup Golden Glove after he kept seven clean sheets in eight matches during Spain’s title-winning campaign.
Also Read: Explore Your Favorite Football Player Profiles: How Tall Is Travis Kelce
