Report: Williams signs 10-year Bilbao deal despite Barcelona interest | OneFootball

Williams Stays in Bilbao: Basque Legend Rejects Big Move

Athletic Bilbao have officially announced that Nico Williams has committed his long-term future to the club by signing a new 10-year contract, ending intense speculation surrounding a potential move to Barcelona or Bayern Munich.

The 22-year-old winger has extended his stay with the Basque outfit until June 2035, with his previous contract due to expire in 2027. Athletic have also confirmed that his release clause, previously reported to be €62 million (£53 million), has increased by 50 percent. That places it around €93 million (£78 million), effectively placing him out of reach for most of Europe’s top clubs under current financial regulations.

“When decisions have to be made, for me, what weighs most is the heart. I’m where I want to be, with my people, this is my home,” said Williams.

This statement brings a sense of finality to one of the more drawn-out transfer stories of the summer. For weeks, Williams was considered Barcelona’s priority target, especially after their sporting director Deco publicly declared interest in signing one of Athletic’s first-team players.

Barcelona had reportedly agreed personal terms with Williams, but their efforts were ultimately halted by La Liga’s stringent 1:1 financial rule. Under this regulation, clubs must match player spending with revenue. Despite the club having money available, La Liga ruled that income from future VIP seating in the revamped Camp Nou could not be counted towards this season’s budget.

As a result, Barcelona were unable to guarantee that they could register Williams, which became a sticking point in negotiations. The player’s camp was clear that unless registration was certain, a deal could not proceed without a clause allowing for contract termination. Such a clause would have left Barcelona exposed, potentially losing a €50 million investment if the winger could not be registered and walked away for free.

The outcome forced Barcelona to withdraw from the deal earlier this week. The club attempted to maintain pressure via Catalan media outlets, but Williams remained silent. Instead, he focused on the European Championship, where he scored in Spain’s 2-1 win over England in the final.

Bilbao signal ambition with decade-long commitment

In retaining Williams, Athletic Bilbao have made one of the most significant statements of intent in recent club history. The winger has risen through their youth system and made his first-team debut in April 2021 at the age of 18. Since then, he has made 167 appearances and scored 31 goals, while forming a key attacking partnership with his older brother, Inaki Williams.

His performances in the 2024-25 season were instrumental in Bilbao finishing fourth in La Liga and qualifying for the Champions League. With that achievement now backed by his extended contract, Williams is poised to become a true Basque legend.

The decision comes despite significant outside interest, particularly from Bayern Munich, who were quietly monitoring developments. However, Bilbao’s loyalty and financial backing, coupled with Williams’ emotional connection to the club, proved decisive.

Williams’ decade-long deal continues a growing trend in modern football where clubs are committing to longer-term contracts to protect their assets. Chelsea in particular have employed this strategy, with forward Cole Palmer extending his contract until 2033. Erling Haaland also agreed a new deal with Manchester City earlier this year that runs until 2034.

UEFA and the Premier League introduced a five-year cap on amortisation in 2023, meaning transfer fees can only be spread over five years of an initial deal. However, clubs are still able to offer longer contracts as a signal of intent and to ensure greater stability.

Andres Iniesta once signed a lifetime deal with Barcelona in 2017 before moving on a year later. In contrast, Williams’ deal reflects a new form of modern loyalty, shaped by financial constraints, homegrown pride and calculated planning.