Leadnaija
Nico Williams has officially informed Athletic Club of his desire to join FC Barcelona, according to reports by journalist Eder Velasco (@evelascojr).
The highly-rated winger and his agent held talks with the Bilbao-based club, making it clear that his intention is to make the switch to Camp Nou this summer.
Barcelona, for their part, have already reached a personal agreement with the Spain international on a contract that runs until June 2031.
However, a major stumbling block remains: Athletic are standing firm on their demand that the full release clause be paid upfront, with no room for installment payments. The release clause is reportedly set at €58 million.
Despite the financial hurdle, Barcelona are exploring ways to complete the transfer, especially after securing Nico’s commitment to a long-term project under the new sporting leadership.
With the player pushing from his side and personal terms sealed, the final step hinges on whether Barça can structure a deal that satisfies Athletic’s financial stance.
