Nico Williams is expected to remain with Athletic Bilbao next season, leaving Barcelona with practically zero chance of signing the winger this summer.
Williams signed a three-year contract extension with the Basque club last December that runs until 2027 and in staying for a further season he would fulfil the plan he has had since signing that deal.
The 22-year-old had intended to stay to allow him to play European football with his boyhood club. Athletic qualified for the Europa League with a fifth-place finish in La Liga last season, and the 2024-25 Europa League final is to be hosted at the club’s San Mames stadium.
While no final decision has been confirmed or communicated to the clubs yet, the assumption that both Barcelona and Athletic are now making is that barring a last-minute U-turn, Williams will still be an Athletic player come the end of the summer window.
The winger’s Athletic release clause is in the region of €55million ($59m; £47m) and The Athletic has previously reported he was at the very top of Barcelona’s priority list regarding transfers this summer.
Sporting director Deco chose not to join the club’s other directors on this summer’s U.S. pre-season tour to remain in Spain and monitor the situation. Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal and Chelsea also all hold an interest in the Spain international.
Barcelona sources, speaking on condition of anonymity to protect their positions, have indicated the club’s chances of signing Williams have reduced over the past few days and they have alternative targets lined up. Fellow Spain international Dani Olmo is top of that list, but an agreement with RB Leipzig is still far from being reached. Olmo has a €60million release clause in his contract.
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Athletic are willing to offer Williams a new deal with improved terms in the near future, although it is still too early to know if that will take place.
Williams was an important part of Spain’s European Championship-winning campaign, starting six of his side’s seven matches and scoring twice — including the opening goal against England in the final.
Before the Euro 2024 final, Athletic president Jon Uriarte criticised the Spanish FA for not “protecting” him from an “uncontrolled and unreasonable” amount of questions about his future during the tournament. He also insisted the club had no intention of selling him.
“Athletic Club is financially, socially and sportingly capable of keeping players of the calibre of those mentioned, including Nico Williams, in its structure,” Uriarte said.
Williams is a product of Athletic’s academy and broke into the first team in 2020, going on to make 122 appearances for the club.
He provided five goals and 11 assists in 31 La Liga appearances last season.
Williams’ 30-year-old brother Inaki also plays for Athletic and represents Ghana at international level.
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Spain’s Nico Williams serves notice – his €55m release clause looks a transfer bargain
(Michael Regan – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
