Nico Williams transfer speculation and contract renewal

Manchester United expressed interest in signing Spanish winger Nico Williams from Athletic Club, with reports indicating the club was prepared to meet his €95 million release clause.

Following this period of transfer speculation, Williams’ agent, Félix Tainta, clarified the player’s recent decisions. Tainta revealed that while Williams had considered leaving Athletic Club and engaged in negotiations with FC Barcelona, no agreement was reached due to Barcelona’s financial constraints. The agent also noted that Williams turned down interest from several other high-profile clubs, including Bayern Munich, PSG, Arsenal, and Liverpool. Ultimately, Williams chose to remain at Athletic Club and signed a contract extension through 2035.

In subsequent comments on the podcast ‘Los Fulanos’, Tainta elaborated that the Barcelona deal collapsed because the club could not provide sufficient guarantees regarding Williams’ registration under La Liga’s financial regulations. Williams reportedly wished to avoid administrative issues that might prevent him from playing ahead of the World Cup. Tainta remarked that a player of Williams’ caliber should not have to inherit a club’s financial problems, comparing the player to a ‘Formula 1 car’. Additionally, Tainta noted that Athletic Club was reportedly unhappy with how Barcelona managed the negotiation process. The contract extension includes a significantly increased release clause, now estimated at 90 million euros.