Nico Williams: Three teams willing to pay €150m as star’s new girlfriend revealed

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 31 Oct 2024 08:50 GMT
• 5 min read

Nico Williams remains hot property on the transfer market, with a trio of European giants willing to spend big on the Athletic Club winger.

While Barcelona may have backed off their interest in Spain’s Euro 2024 hero, Arsenal, Chelsea and PSG are all reportedly willing to splash out €150 million on the 22-year-old, according to TodoFichajes.

Athletic are doing everything in their power to retain the left winger, who is under contract until 2027.

Current ETV

Nico Williams

F, M (L)

Athletic

Nico Williams

F, M (L)

Athletic

€51.6M

ETV Range

€38.7M - €64.5M

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The report, however, is a curious one purely because Nico Williams has a release clause in his Athletic deal that is worth a mere €58m. While there has been speculation that he could be offered a new contract, there is no mention of this possibility in the report, making talk of a €150m fee moot.

What could be a stumbling block for these clubs – and particularly Chelsea – is Williams’ wage demands. Athletic are known to pay their top stars handsomely for their loyalty and, as such, the Spain star earns more than he would at another club the size of the Bilbao outfit – an estimated €10.5m per year.

Arsenal and PSG might accept such wages, but Chelsea prefer to offer players longer deals at lower wages, offering long-term security but less short-team gain.

Indeed, the Blues already have a proliferation of wingers, which is another factor that suggests Arsenal and PSG are best placed to land Nico.

Who is Nico Williams’ girlfriend

Nico Williams’ has a new girlfriend, with El Periodico announcing the news that he is seeing Ainhi García.

It reports: “Many people have assured me over the past few months that they are a couple, but now I have been able to officially confirm it. Although, I must also tell you, they are both very young, and they are not committed for life, they are living in the present.

“Nico has been very careful to ensure that this story comes to light, because although both are very aware of their fame, they were afraid that their feelings would be cut short by media pressure, but they are at a point where they do not hide.

“Ainhi Garcia has gone to see him at the games, and they have shown themselves to be very complicit.”