Al-Nassr announced on its official website on Sunday that Barcelona's Spain international defender Iñigo Martinez has joined the club on a free transfer.

According to the Saudi Pro League giants' official statement, Martínez has signed on a short-tem one-year deal with the club which will only run until the summer of 2026.

In addition, according to Spanish online media outlet Relevo's resident renowned Italian transfer journalist Matteo Moretto , Barcelona had indeed just renewed Martínez's contract in March of this year and had no intention of parting ways with the player.

However, due to severe financial issues, La Liga refused to approve the registration of new goalkeeper Joan García, forcing Barcelona to terminate Martínez's contract to make room for the latter.

About Iñigo Martínez

Martínez, 34, was born on May 17, 1991 in Ondarroa, Basque Country, Spain. He is 1.82 meters tall and plays as a center-back.

Martínez once played for the youth academy of a local non-league club in his hometown Ondarroa when he was a child. In the summer of 2006, he moved to the Real Sociedad youth academy. In August 2009, he began to play for Real Sociedad's reserve-team, helping the club won the Spanish Tercera Division once during this time.

At the end of August 2011, Martínez made his Real Sociedad first-team debut. Since then, he has become one of the key players who helped the club rise again and become a frequent participant in European competitions.

On the deadline day of the 2018 winter transfer window, Martínez moved to his local rivals Athletic Bilbao for a record-breaking €32 million in the club's history.

Across his 6-year spell with Euskaldunak Lehoiak, Martínez led his club to win the Supercoppa España once and reach the Copa del Rey final twice.

After leaving the club when his contract had expired in the summer of 2023, Martínez joined Barcelona as a free agent.

During his two-year spell with the Blaugrana, Martínez played 71 times for the Barcelona all competitions, scoring 3 goals, assisting 6 times, as well as winning the La Liga once, the Copa del Rey once, the Supercopa de España once with the club.