The Nico Williams transfer deal is big news among football fans. Athletic reported that Barcelona had agreed personal terms with Athletic Bilbao’s 22 year old winger Nico Williams. Everyone thought Nico Williams would be donning the Barcelona jersey soon. But there were some hurdles in the deal and now the news is that Nico has extended his contract with Athletic Club until 2035.
Nico Williams played for Spain in Euro 2024 last year. He scored against England in the final to make Spain the champions. His speed, dribbling and ability to beat defenders caught the eye of big clubs like Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Bayern Munich. But Nico Williams preferred Barcelona because he wanted to play with his friend Lamine Yamal. Barcelona had also talked about paying his release clause of €60 million.
Barcelona had signed Nico Williams on a 6 year contract. His salary was supposed to be €7-8 million per year. Sporting director Deco had met Nico and his agent Felix Tainta in Ibiza. Everything was going well but the financial rules of La Liga put a hurdle. Barcelona had to make room in the salary cap to register Nico Williams which was a big challenge for them.
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Nico Williams’ team asked Barcelona for a written guarantee that they would be able to register him in La Liga. At first there was a problem with Dani Olmo’s registration so Nico’s agents were cautious. Barcelona offered a special clause where Nico could move to another team without a fee if he didn’t register. But Barcelona refused to accept this condition and that’s where the deal got stuck.
Athletic Club tried their best to keep Nico Williams. Their president Jon Uriarte had said that the club has the power to keep a star like Nico. But Nico made it clear that he wants to go to Barcelona. Despite this Athletic increased his release clause from €60 million to €90 million and extended the contract until 2035. “I listen to my heart and athleticism is my home.”
This is a big blow for Barcelona. President Joan Laporta and Deco thought the deal of Nico Williams would be done. Nico’s dribbling and speed would have added more to their attacking line with Lamine Yamal and Raphinha. But the salary cap problems stopped them. Barcelona recently raised some money by selling players like Ansu Fati and Clement Lenglet but it was not enough.
Nico Williams is now with Athletic Club. His new deal has more salary and tax benefits. But Barcelona fans still hope maybe Nico will play for them in the future. His speed and style was perfect for Hansi Flick’s team. The duo of Nico and Lamine Yamal would have been a big deal in La Liga.
Mark Phury is a dynamic sports enthusiast with a knack for capturing the thrill of the game. With 3 years at Hindustan Times, he delivers sharp, engaging stories that resonate with fans. Reach him at markphury@gmail.com for insights that score every time.