Nico Williams Stays Put: Barcelona’s Transfer Plans Shifted
Athletic Club winger Nico Williams has opted to remain at his boyhood club, dashing FC Barcelona’s hopes of signing the UEFA Euro 2024 star.
Despite a tempting €58 million release clause and significant interest from multiple European top clubs, Nico Williams has prioritized playing European football with Athletic.
But doubts have grown over whether Williams will move at all, and now The Athletic Club says that barring a “last-minute U-turn”, he is set to stay at Bilbao.
Neither Barcelona nor Athletic Club are believed to have officially told them at this stage, but both are now working on the assumption that the player is not moving.
The reason is clear and at the same time admirable. It is said that when Nico Williams signed a contract extension with Athletic Club in December, he came up with a specific plan that has yet to be fulfilled. Staying one more year allows him to play European football with his boyhood club, having qualified for the Europa League thanks to a fifth-placed finish in La Liga last season.
Barcelona, who had been heavily linked with Williams and even expressed interest in young talent Lamine Yamal, are now refocusing their efforts on Dani Olmo of RB Leipzig.
An initial verbal offer has already been made for Dani Olmo, but the deal is yet to be finalized.
