Malcom Ares

Malcom Abdulai Ares Djaló (He has been referred to as Adu Ares, Adu Malcom, efn|Stated as Guinea in some sources.) Ares began his career locally with Deusto, Danok Bat, Indautxu and Santutxu, where his talent drew the attention of Athletic Bilbao. Having played one season at senior level with Santutxu he joined the Lions in the summer of 2021, aged 19, and was initially assigned to their farm team, Basconia of the Tercera División RFEF (fifth tier).

Ares's good form, as well as a need for reinforcements in the squad of the club's reserve team, Bilbao Athletic – struggling to survive in the 2021–22 Primera División RFEF – saw him promoted mid-season, and he continued to perform impressively at the higher (third) level while helping the team avoid relegation. He was listed among the substitutes by coach Ernesto Valverde for the opening day of the 2022–23 La Liga campaign, and made his top division debut as a late replacement for Iñaki Williams in the closing minutes of the fixture against Mallorca at the San Mamés, which ended goalless. He was a regular with the reserves that season as they suffered relegation from the third tier, and made eight more appearances from the bench towards the end of the campaign for the first team – however, he was only on the winning side once as results eluded Athletic: they lost in the Copa del Rey semi-finals to rivals Osasuna and finished behind the same opposition in eighth position in La Liga, just out of the European places.

On 14 December 2023, Ares extended his contract with Athletic Bilbao until 30 June 2027. The following 30 August, he was loaned to Segunda División side Real Zaragoza for the season.

On 17 August 2025, Ares signed a five-year deal with Eibar also in the second division, with Athletic holding a buy-back option, a percentage of a future transfer and several other clauses.

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