OFFICIAL: Nico Williams snubs Barca once again after renewing Athletic contract

Athletic Club has confirmed that Nico Williams has extended his contract with the Basque side until 2035, eight more seasons, and that he has increased his termination clause "more than 50% of the one he had".

"When it comes to making decisions, for me, what weighs most is the heart. I am where I want to be, with my people, this is my home. Aupa Athletic," Williams declared in the video in which the club announced his renewal.

In a surprise move, this announcement has put an end to one of the summer's transfer sagas, as the Spanish winger was set to become a new Barcelona player, who had intensified negotiations in the last few days. However, the Catalan giants could not guarantee his registration, at least for the time being, and that could have been one of the reasons why the younger Williams decided not to wait any longer.

Athletic's full statement

"Athletic Club and Nico Williams have reached an agreement to extend for eight seasons, until 30th June 2035, the contract that was due to expire in 2027. His termination clause increases by more than 50% compared to the previous one.

"When it comes to making decisions, for me, what weighs most is the heart. I am where I want to be, with my people, this is my home. Aupa Athletic", declared Nico Williams in the video in which the Club announced his renewal.

This new show of loyalty marks a milestone in the red and white history and endorses a path of confidence in the sporting project already started by, among other teammates, Unai Simón, Oihan Sancet, Dani Vivian, Mikel Jauregizar, Beñat Prados or Ernesto Valverde himself... and, of course, his brother Inaki Williams, the captain of this team that is already historic and generational. He will continue to wear the 10 inherited from Iker Muniain, with the Champions League as a new stage. His step forward in the face of dizzying offers is a resounding success for Athletic Club, an Athletic WIN (Williams, Iñaki and Nico) in every sense of the word.

Ambitious Lions who not only want to win, but also want to do it with Athletic, with the team of their heart, aware that in sport, the greater the difficulty, the greater the merit of victory, #UniqueInTheWorld.

Nico Williams (Irunea, 2002) joined Athletic Club as a youngster in the 2013/14 season, a year after his brother Iñaki arrived at Lezama. Since then, he has completed all the training stages at Athletic until his debut as a Lion on 28 April 2021, at just 18 years of age. In his 5 seasons so far in the first team he has made a total of 167 official appearances and has won a Copa del Rey title, as well as qualifying for the Europa League (where the team reached the semi-finals) and the Champions League this past season.

Nico Williams' contribution to Athletic in recent seasons has been decisive, making a difference in the attacking department thanks to his pace and speed, scoring 31 goals, creating a multitude of chances and being a constant nightmare for opposing defences. 

Beyond his formidable performance on the pitch, Nico Williams' international projection has been immense, becoming a valuable ambassador of the Athletic brand around the world, for example, being named MVP of the final of Euro 2024 (where he was proclaimed champion with the Spanish national team) or entering the list of nominees for the Ballon d'Or (15th).

Athletic's sporting philosophy, freely chosen, is a singularity that makes the Club, its social mass (owner of the entity) and its fans proud. The step forward that Nico Williams has taken with this renewal fills the entire Athletic family with pride, and it outlines a future that is as ambitious as it is exciting.

This is the famous Athletic, the famous Athletic Club".