🚨 Official: Nico Williams Signs New Long-Term Contract with Athletic Club Amid Barcelona Interest

SME News UK. In a significant boost to Athletic Club, rising star Nico Williams has signed a new contract that will keep him at San Mamés until 2035, shutting down intense speculation linking him with a summer move to Barcelona.The 22-year-old winger, widely regarded as one of Spain’s most electrifying talents, had been on Barcelona’s radar for months. Sporting director Deco recently claimed the player was eager to join the Catalan giants, while president Joan Laporta confirmed the club was prepared to activate his then-€58 million release clause.However, Athletic Club have now confirmed that Williams’ new deal includes a release clause that has increased by “more than 50%”, significantly complicating any future attempts to lure the Basque-born attacker away from his boyhood club. “This is my home” – Nico Williams commits future to AthleticSpeaking after putting pen to paper, Williams made it clear that loyalty and emotional connection played a decisive role in his decision:> “When decisions have to be made, for me what weighs most is the heart. I’m where I want to be, with my people. This is my home. Aupa Athletic!,,The Spain international joined Athletic’s academy in 2013 and was promoted to the first team in 2021. He has since blossomed into a key figure for both club and country, playing a pivotal role in Athletic’s 2024 Copa del Rey triumph and their qualification for the 2025 UEFA Champions League.Williams also shone on the international stage, scoring and earning Man of the Match honors in Spain’s victory over England in the Euro 2024 final. A Statement of Ambition from AthleticAthletic Club released an official statement lauding Williams’ decision as a landmark moment:> “The step forward Nico Williams has taken with this renewal fills the entire Athletic Club family with pride and paints a picture of a future as ambitious as it is exciting. His step forward in the face of dizzying offers is a resounding success for Athletic Club.”Now wearing the iconic number 10 shirt previously donned by club legend Iker Muniain, Williams is set to lead the club into a new era—one marked by Champions League football, domestic ambition, and a reinforced sense of identity.This development is a major blow to Barcelona, who had earmarked Williams as a key target amid their ongoing squad rebuild. For Athletic, however, it represents a resounding statement of intent—and a declaration that their best talents will not be easily pried away.