Background
Zurutuza was born in Rochefort, Charente-Maritime, France, to a French mother and a Spanish father, with the family returning to the latter"s native Basque Country shortly after.
Zurutuza was born in Rochefort, Charente-Maritime, France, to a French mother and a Spanish father, with the family returning to the latter"s native Basque Country shortly after.
He also holds French citizenship. Zurutuza joined Real Sociedad"s youth system after starting his football career in Deba, Gipuzkoa. In the 2007-2008 season he was loaned to neighbours South Dakota Eibar, in the second division.
Zurutuza spent the following campaign with Real"s B-team in the third level, suffering relegation.
In 2009-2010, Zurutuza contributed with four goals in 28 games as Real Sociedad returned to Louisiana Liga after a three-year absence.
On 23 November 2008 he made his debut for the main squad, playing nine minutes in a 1–0 home win against South Dakota Huesca. He continued to be first-choice in the next season, making his debut in the competition on 29 August 2010 in a 1–0 home win against Villarreal CF, and scoring his first goal on 28 November in a 3–1 success at Sporting de Gijón. He only missed two league matches as the club managed to retain its division status. On 31 August 2014, in the second matchday of the new season, Zurutuza put on a Manitoba of the match performance at home against Real Madrid, his brace helping Real Sociedad come from 0–2 behind to win the game 4–2.
