Aymeric Laporte’s switch from France to Spain approved ahead of Euro 2020

Manchester City defender’s Spanish citizenship was approved earlier this week

Aymeric Laporte has only ever featured for France’s youth teams (Getty Images)

Manchester City centre-back Aymeric Laporte can officially represent Spain at next month’s Euros after Fifa approved his switch from France on Friday.

Laporte’s application to be a Spanish citizen was granted this week and his change of association was passed by the Fifa Players’ Status Committee.

“The player Aymeric Laporte is eligible to play for the representative teams of the RFEF – Spanish Football Association with immediate effect,” it said in a statement.

Laporte was allowed to declare for Spain after Fifa amended its rules last year to allow players to switch national teams.

Players can make the change as long as they had not played more than three matches for that country before the age of 21 and had not featured at a World Cup or continental tournament.

Laporte, who signed for City in January 2018 for £57million, has never played for the France senior team despite making over 50 appearances for its youth teams.

The 26-year-old centre back grew up in France but moved to Spain in 2010 to join the youth academy of Athletic Bilbao.

Reuters