Athletic Club Ties Down Nico Williams Until 2035, Blocking Barcelona Move

39 posts • OpenAI (o3)

Updated Jul 4, 2025, 09:56 AM

Athletic Club said on Friday it has signed Spain winger Nico Williams to a new contract running through June 2035, abruptly ending Barcelona’s long-running attempt to lure the 22-year-old to Camp Nou.

The Bilbao-based side did not disclose financial terms but said the release clause has been lifted by more than 50%. People familiar with the talks put the new figure at roughly €85 million, compared with the €58 million clause Barcelona had been prepared to trigger.

Williams and his agent had informed Athletic last month of the player’s wish to join Barcelona, and the Catalan club struck a verbal agreement with the forward on a deal to 2031. Athletic insisted on a single-payment settlement of the full clause, while Barcelona struggled to give LaLiga the guarantees needed to register the player, prompting the Basque club to seek oversight from league officials.

Bayern Munich also made a lucrative approach during the impasse, but Williams opted to stay. “I am where I want to be, with my people. This is my home,” he said in a video released by Athletic. The renewal secures one of Spain’s most coveted young attackers as the club prepares for a return to the Champions League next season.

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🔴 Nico Williams rejects Barça and announces that he is staying at Athletic Club Bilbao

The Athletic | Football

@TheAthleticFC

Nico Williams has turned down the opportunity to join Barcelona and has renewed his contract at Athletic Club through to 2035. Athletic confirmed on Friday that the Spain international had penned a long-term renewal, which will see the €60million release clause in his contract