Herrera returns to boyhood Real Zaragoza and donates his entire salary to the club's foundation

Ander Herrera has returned to Real Zaragoza and is playing without pay, donating his full salary to the club’s foundation rather than taking home a wage in Spain’s third division. The 37-year-old rejoined his boyhood club in July after 18 months with Boca Juniors in Argentina.

Herrera, who left Zaragoza in 2011 amid the club’s financial difficulties, says the decision was straightforward given his career earnings. “I don’t need a contract. I have a very successful career. I have taken care of my money,” he told BBC Sport. “I can give this present to myself. To put that shirt on — for free because I wanted to help my club, my team, my city.”

The foundation he is supporting funds grassroots sports, educational programmes, and other charitable projects in the region. “I am not thinking about money or contracts,” Herrera added. “I feel a privilege to be able to do that.”

Herrera made 86 appearances for Zaragoza in his first spell, predominantly in La Liga, before a €7.5 million move to Athletic Club in 2011. Three and a half years in Bilbao preceded his £28 million transfer to Manchester United, where he became Louis van Gaal’s first signing.

At Old Trafford, Herrera made 189 appearances and won the FA Cup, EFL Cup, and Europa League before leaving in 2019 when his contract expired. He later revealed the departure was not purely financial. “It was not about money. It was not about the duration of the contract offer,” he said. “In my opinion, I waited too long for an offer and deserved more attention from the club.”

He joined Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer, reaching the Champions League final in his debut season under Thomas Tuchel, before gradually falling out of favour in Paris. A return to Athletic Club followed in 2022 for two and a half years, then the move to Boca Juniors, and now this homecoming to Zaragoza.

With the club currently competing in the third tier of Spanish football, Herrera is intent on contributing both on and off the pitch to help restore them to their former standing.