Fresh Nico Williams contact as attacker’s Chelsea move confirmed

Robin Bairner

31 Mar 2025 14:00 BST
4 min read

Nico Williams, Chelsea, 2024/25 — © IMAGO

Chelsea face a busy summer in the transfer market, with the signing of new attacking players, such at Athletic Club star Nico Williams, a priority.

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The Stamford Bridge side have been given an update on where they stand in the race for Nico, who is set to be one of the most-wanted players of the summer.

Current ETV

Nico Williams

M (L)

Athletic

Nico Williams

M (L)

Athletic

ETV Range

€64.1M - €78.4M

Chelsea chased the 22-year-old unsuccessfully a year ago, with the Spain international opting against leaving Bilbao, despite interest also from Barcelona and Arsenal.

A release clause in his Athletic contract worth just €58 million means that he remains a wanted man. He possesses, after all, an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €71.2m, so its unsurprising that the Basque side will demand his release fee in full to do a deal.

Now Chelsea are said by TeamTalk to have made fresh contact with Athletic over a move in a bid to fend off competition from Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.

The Blues have been informed, however, that Nico wants to play at the highest level and that their attempts to complete a deal likely hinge on their qualification for the Champions League next season.

FootballTransfers, meanwhile, previously revealed that Arsenal are prepared to pay above Nico Williams’ release clause in order to force through a transfer.

Joao Felix to return in the summer

If a deal for Nico Williams hangs in the balance, one face that will be at Stamford Bridge in the summer is Joao Felix.

The Portugal international was shipped out on loan to AC Milan in the January transfer window but has been unable to turn around the disappointing form he displayed at Chelsea in the first half of the season.

It has now been confirmed that Felix will be returning to the Blues at the end of his deal at San Siro – but the plan is to sell him.

“Joao Felix’s story at AC Milan is going to end,” Nicolo Schira reports on X. “He will return to Chelsea in June.

“He’s not in Chelsea’s plans and could leave London again. Galatasaray and two Saudi clubs are interested in him.”

Chelsea will hope to fund any deal for Nico Williams by selling Felix, who arrived last summer from Atletico Madrid for €52m.