In a move that has caught many off guard, Nico Williams has rejected advances from Barcelona and committed his long-term future to Athletic Club, signing a new contract that runs until 2035.
Barcelona had agreed personal terms with the 21-year-old winger and were exploring ways to trigger his €62 million release clause. However, doubts about their financial capacity to complete the deal — and register the player under La Liga’s salary cap regulations — left the transfer in limbo.
Athletic seized the moment. In a swift and decisive move, the club announced on Friday that Williams had signed a 10-year extension, with a significantly increased release clause — reportedly more than 50% higher than the previous one.
Nico Williams Transfer: Nico Williams Rejects Barcelona, Chose Heart
“This is my home,” Williams said. “When making decisions, the most important thing is to listen to your heart.”
The extension is a major statement from the Basque club, long known for its strict recruitment policy and dependence on homegrown talent. Williams, born in Pamplona and raised in the club’s academy, now becomes a long-term cornerstone of that identity.
For Barcelona, it is a sharp setback. Financial constraints continue to shape their transfer strategy, with Williams the latest in a series of targets to slip through. Liverpool’s Luis Díaz remains out of reach due to cost. Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, whose interest in the move is known, may now come into sharper focus.
But for Athletic, retaining Williams — in the face of both prestige and pressure — is more than a contract renewal. It is a cultural reaffirmation.
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