Major Arsenal deal to be announced TODAY in move that has huge Nico Williams implications

Robin Bairner

Updated: 28 Mar 2025 03:23 CDT
4 min read

Arsenal will take a step towards signing Nico Williams when the club’s new sporting director is confirmed as Andrea Berta in the coming hours.

The Gunners are primed to confirm that Berta will take up the reins in a decision that has been expected for several weeks but will have a profound impact on the club’s transfer policy in the summer.

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Current ETV

Nico Williams

M (L)

Athletic

Nico Williams

M (L)

Athletic

ETV Range

€64.1M - €78.4M

The sporting director role at the Emirates has been vacant since Edu dramatically announced that he was leaving late in 2024 to take up a role in Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis' multi-club group.

Berti is now set to take up the position, having been at the heart of Atletico Madrid’s remarkable project since 2013, with Di Marzio claiming the official confirmation is imminent.

Indeed, the Italian has been behind some of the best moves that Diego Simeone’s side have made in the last decade, including coups that saw Atleti sign Julian Alvarez from Manchester City and Luis Suarez from Barcelona.

© IMAGO - Andrea Berta is set to work with Mikel Arteta at Arsenal

Arsenal’s summer transfer window mapped out by Berta

Berta’s arrival at Arsenal is no snap decision, with this deal having been in the pipeline for months. As such, his plans for the summer transfer window have already been mapped out.

His top priority for 2025 will be securing the signing of Nico Williams from Athletic Club, FootballTransfers exclusively revealed.

Martin Zubimendi is also expected to arrive from LaLiga, with much of the groundwork the Real Sociedad midfielder already having been completed, despite reports Real Madrid are trying to disrupt this move.

Given Arsenal’s perceived strength in their position for the Spain international, the focus is on securing Nico.

The Gunners are ready to pay above the €58 million release clause of Nico Williams in order to secure more favourable payment terms for the 22-year-old, and Berta’s first big job at the Emirates will be to ensure he gets this deal over the line.