Nico Williams will not join Barcelona in the current summer transfer window. The 22-year-old will remain with Athletic Bilbao for a very long time.
Negotiations were in full swing between Barcelona and Williams in the past month, but in the past few hours, they completely stalled after the player asked the Catalan club’s management to provide written guarantees for his registration.
While Catalan newspapers were optimistic about resolving the crisis and signing Williams before July 9, the player surprised everyone by signing a new contract that will keep him at Athletic Bilbao for another ten years, until 2035.
According to Spanish media reports, Williams’ release clause has risen to more than €96 million, up from just €62 million this summer.
In turn, the player commented on his decision to continue with Bilbao, saying, “When it comes to making decisions, for me the most important thing is to listen to your heart. I’m where I want to be, with my people. Bilbao is my home.”
Bayern Munich had made two offers to Williams in recent weeks, both with a salary exceeding €12 million per year. However, the player’s desire was clear: either to move to Barcelona or to stay with Bilbao. After negotiations with the Blaugrana collapsed, he opted to remain with the Basque club.
With the end of the Williams saga, Barcelona will turn to other options to bolster the left wing position. Marcus Rashford will undoubtedly be Joan Laporta’s first choice, given the deal’s terms, which seem more affordable than other big-money signings such as Liverpool star Luis Diaz.
