The summer transfer market is buzzing, and Real Madrid is wasting no time making major moves. Fresh off the signing of Danish striker Rasmus Højlund, the club is now on the brink of sealing another major transfer—this time snatching a player that had long been linked with rivals Barcelona.
According to Marca, Madrid is set to hijack the transfer of Nico Williams, the explosive 22-year-old winger from Athletic Bilbao. Barcelona had been monitoring Williams for over a year and even made contact last summer. But now, Madrid is reportedly close to finalizing a deal, with an official announcement expected soon.
Williams, one of La Liga’s most promising young attackers, is under contract with Bilbao until 2027. His release clause of €58 million is well within Madrid’s budget, and the club is ready to pay it outright, bypassing lengthy negotiations.
Barcelona’s interest had cooled in recent months due to financial issues and managerial changes under Hansi Flick. That hesitation gave Real Madrid the opportunity to move swiftly—and they’ve done just that.
This move fits Madrid’s current strategy: building a squad of young, versatile talent with high potential. With recent signings like Dean Huijsen and Álvaro Carreras, Madrid is clearly preparing for both immediate impact and long-term success.
Bringing in Williams not only strengthens Madrid’s depth on the wings, but also delivers a psychological blow to Barcelona. For the second time this summer, Madrid is beating their archrivals to a key signing—something that could shift momentum ahead of the new season.
While the deal is not yet official, all indications suggest that Williams will soon be presented at the Bernabéu. The rivalry between Spain’s two biggest clubs is heating up off the pitch—and right now, Real Madrid has the upper hand
