Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams has set his sights on a move to Barcelona, but the proposed transfer faces significant obstacles due to his club’s firm stance on financial terms.
The Spanish international’s desire to join the Catalan giants conflicts with Athletic’s refusal to negotiate below his €58 million release clause.
The 22-year-old attacker, of Ghanaian descent, has emerged as one of La Liga’s most exciting talents since breaking into Bilbao’s first team.
His electrifying pace and technical ability have made him a prime target for Barcelona, who view him as an ideal long-term solution for their attacking woes.
Athletic Club’s leadership has drawn a hard line in negotiations, with a club representative telling Mundo Deportivo: “If they want him, let them pay it, period.”
This uncompromising position leaves Barcelona facing a dilemma – meet the full buyout fee or abandon their pursuit of a player who has reportedly been on their radar for over a year.
Despite recent discussions between Barcelona’s sporting director and Williams’ representatives, no breakthrough appears imminent.
The Basque club’s historical policy of only fielding players from Spain’s northern regions makes them particularly resistant to losing homegrown talents like Williams without maximum compensation.
The young winger’s decision to stay at San Mamés for the 2024-25 campaign suggests he remains professional about the situation, but his long-term future continues to fuel speculation.
With Barcelona’s well-documented financial constraints and Athletic’s inflexible stance, this transfer saga may develop into one of the summer’s most protracted negotiations unless either side blinks first.
