Nico Williams Renews With Athletic Club Until 2035 With €85M Clause, Rejects Barcelona Amid Laporta, Tebas Disputes and Bayern Offer

Nico Williams, the forward for Athletic Club, has officially renewed his contract with the club until 2035, rejecting a potential transfer to FC Barcelona. The renewal includes a salary increase and a release clause raised by over 50% to approximately €85 million. This decision comes after weeks of speculation and negotiations involving Barcelona's intention to pay his €62 million release clause, but the club faced challenges registering the player due to LaLiga's financial fair play rules. Athletic Club has expressed strong opposition to Barcelona's attempts to sign Williams, even meeting with LaLiga president Javier Tebas to scrutinize the financial aspects of the deal.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta affirmed the club's readiness to pay the release clause but acknowledged ongoing tensions with Athletic. Williams' agent requested guarantees regarding the player's registration with Barcelona, causing delays and complications. Despite a lucrative offer from Bayern Munich, Williams prioritized staying with Athletic Club, emphasizing his commitment with the statement, "Estoy donde quiero estar" (I'm where I want to be). The renewal effectively ends the transfer saga, with Williams and his family accepting his continued stay at Athletic.