Nico Williams has extended his contract with Athletic Club until 2035, signaling that Barcelona’s hopes of signing him this summer have dimmed.
Barça’s sports director, Deco, noted that Williams expressed a strong “desire” to join the Spanish champions, while President Joan Laporta mentioned his readiness to pay the winger’s €58 million ($68.3 million) release clause.
However, in a surprising turn of events on Friday, Athletic Club announced that Williams would be signing a new deal that considerably increases his release clause—”more than 50% greater than before.”
The 22-year-old Spanish international has caught Barcelona’s interest for a while, with attempts to sign him dating back to last summer.
Barcelona aimed to finalize their recruitment at the end of the year, indicating dissatisfaction with Athletic’s finances after last week’s complaints about their pursuit of La Liga contracts.
This contract extension has reportedly led to discontent among some Athletic fans, who have vandalized murals featuring Williams on two occasions recently.
Ultimately, Williams has chosen to remain with the club where he began his journey at age 11, alongside his brother, Ghanaian international Inaki Williams, and is now set to participate in the Champions League next season.
“For me, the most important factor in decision-making is the emotional aspect,” Williams shared as he spray-painted “2035” over a damaged mural.
“I want to stay with my people. This is my home. Aupa Athletic!”
Since joining Athletic’s first team in 2021, Williams has made 167 appearances, scoring 31 goals, and played a crucial role in the team that won the Copa del Rey in 2024, ending a 40-year wait for a major trophy.
Williams has also emerged as a vital player for the Spanish national team under Luis de La Fuente, earning 28 caps and netting six goals.
He has built strong ties with various Barça players, including Lamin Yamal, Alejandro Valde, and Pedri, and revealed that last summer, both Yamal and Valde faced pressure to join Barcelona.
With the news of Williams’ new contract, Barcelona will likely need to explore other options, especially after Deco indicated the winger was a summer priority for the club to relieve some pressure off Yamal and Rafinha.
Liverpool’s Luis Diaz has been targeted as an alternative, but the Premier League champions have rejected approaches from both Barcelona and Bayern Munich for the Colombian.
Additionally, Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford is seen as another potential target, with Rashford recently expressing a desire to eventually play alongside Yamal.
Fan Take: This news is significant for soccer fans as it emphasizes the emotional connections players have to their clubs, which can influence their decisions beyond mere financial considerations. Williams’ choice to remain at Athletic Club not only strengthens the team’s future but also highlights the ongoing rivalry and strategic maneuvers among top clubs like Barcelona, shaping the dynamics of European soccer.
