Arsenal and Chelsea given Nico Williams opportunity as decision made

Tom Weber

• Updated: 31 Jul 2024 18:50 BST
• 3 min read

Nico Williams has indeed decided to remain at Athletic Club, it has now been confirmed.

The hottest transfer property of the summer has made a final decision. According to The Athletic, Bilbao superstar Williams will remain with his boyhood club.

This comes despite Barcelona's desperate attempts to sign him, having made the winger their top target following a barnstorming Euro 2024 campaign with Spain.

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The above-mentioned outlet reports that the Blaugrana's chances of landing the 22-year-old are now 'practically zero,' though the player has yet to officially communicate his decision.

Sources at Athletic and Barca are increasingly confident that Williams will not be moving and the latter's hopes of sealing a deal have shrunken dramatically in recent days.

Last week, LaLiga journalist Daniel Sobis had claimed that the Spain star has decided to stay put and The Athletic's report now lends increasing weight to that assertion.

Williams is said to be keen to play European football with his boyhood club and Barcelona's unsatisfactory financial situation will surely also have influenced his assumed decision.

Good news for Arsenal and Chelsea?

Barcelona, of course, were not the only club interested in Williams. In recent weeks, PSG had begun taking a concrete interest in the winger, though it seems their hopes will also be frustrated.

Previously, Arsenal and Chelsea were heavily linked with Williams and it is understood that both clubs still hold him in high esteem. His price, however, made him an unrealistic summer target for both.

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Though both clubs would have been prepared to pay his €58 million release clause, additional costs such as taxes, agent commissions and his sizeable wages would have taken the entire financial package beyond what both clubs are prepared to pay this summer.

However, with Williams now set to stay, these two Premier League behemoths may fancy their chances in future transfer windows when the market is perhaps more favourable.

That said, it is unlikely that Williams will become any cheaper anytime soon. On the contrary, Fabrizio Romano has reported that the player has been promised a bumper new contract should he decide to remain in Bilbao.