Nico Williams has told Athletic Club that he wants to leave this summer to join Barcelona. He’s currently under contract with Athletic Bilbao until 2027, with a release clause of €58 million, which Barcelona sees as their entry point if they can afford it. Athletic Bilbao, however, wants to raise this clause to deter interested clubs.
Barcelona’s technical director Deco recently met with Nico’s agent, and coach Hansi Flick personally contacted Nico to discuss plans. Other clubs like Bayern Munich, Arsenal, and Chelsea have also shown interest, with Bayern making a strong financial offer.
Nico is reportedly favorable toward Barcelona, influenced partly by his friendship with Barca star Lamine Yamal. However, Athletic Bilbao wants to keep him, highlighting his ties to the club, including playing alongside his brother and ambitions for European competition.
Financially, Barcelona faces challenges due to La Liga’s salary cap restrictions and must find ways to free up funds—possibly through player sales and sponsorship deals. They are considering a payment structure similar to the one used for Robert Lewandowski to manage costs.
At this point, Barcelona needs to secure the money, pay the release clause, and register Nico before the preseason starts. Athletic hopes to retain him for another season, especially with Champions League football on the horizon.
In short: Nico wants to join Barcelona, and Barcelona wants him, but Athletic’s high release clause and Barca’s financial constraints make the transfer complicated. If Barca can navigate these issues, Nico could reunite with Yamal and join coach Flick’s squad. If not, other clubs remain interested.
