Nico Williams transfer close: Everything done between player and club

Robin Bairner

Updated: 10 Jul 2024 16:35 CDT
3 min read

Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, Spain, Euro 2024 — © IMAGO

Athletic Club winger Nico Williams is nearing the end of his transfer saga, with reports from Spain indicating that the Euro 2024 star has agreed a contract with Barcelona.

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Arsenal and Chelsea have been chasing the winger from the Premier League, and while both London giants still stand a legitimate chance of landing the 22-year-old attacker, Barcelona are firmly in pole position to land a player who, along with fellow youngster Lamine Yamal, has lit up the European Championship.

Current ETV

Nico Williams

M (L)

Athletic

Nico Williams

M (L)

Athletic

ETV Range

€34.2M - €57M

Sport reports that the transfer between the player and Barcelona is agreed, and all that the deal hinges on is the Camp Nou outfit being able to pay the player’s release clause of €58 million.

But there is a warning for Barca. The report indicates that the deal will need to be closed quickly, with the player not willing to “wait forever” for the winger. As such, the transfer could become “seriously complicated”, in which case Arsenal and Chelsea would still retain a chance of signing the player.

Barcelona in race to close deal

The Blaugrana met with Felix Tainta, the agent of Nico Williams, last week in Barcelona, with the encounter ending with an agreement in principle and the player with regards the person terms of the transfer.

Sports adds: “Although we have not had access to the file and the length of the contract of the Spain winger, we can confirm that there is already an agreement in principle between both parties and that all the loose ends have been closed while waiting for Barca and Athletic to close the definitive transfer.”

© IMAGO - Nico Williams, Spain, Euro 2024

This is no simple task for Barca, though. In financial strife for more than two seasons, they have struggled to attract major stars to the club due to an inability to pay significant transfer fees.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has gone on the record to say that if the club wants to sign Nico Williams, they will be able to raise the funds.

“Obviously I like him, a lot. Today we can afford to sign Nico Williams. We can cope with a signing like Nico's,” Laporta told Radio Catalunya.

This is set to be put to the test as Barcelona seek to complete a major transfer coup ahead of Chelsea and Arsenal.