Aston Villa and Chelsea have reportedly walked away from a summer move for Nico Williams due to the financial outlay required to sign him.
According to a report by 90min, Chelsea and Aston Villa are no longer interested in signing Nico Williams. The Premier League outfits do not want to make the financial outlay required to sign the Athletic Club attacker in the summer transfer window. The Spaniard has a release clause worth €50 million in his contract with the Basque outfit, and he pockets €200,000-a-week wages.
The rise and rise of Nico Williams
Nico Williams has established himself as one of the best players in La Liga since breaking into the first-team squad at Athletic Club. The 21-year-old has developed various facets of his game in the last few years, becoming a productive winger.
In addition, the Spanish international has become a mainstay in the final third for his club and country, having already turned out 13 times for Spain. Meanwhile, Williams has enjoyed an exceptional 2023/24 campaign, contributing to 23 goals in 34 appearances. The youngster has found the back of the net seven times while providing 16 assists.
Meanwhile, the Spaniard’s progress at Athletic Club has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile clubs, including Chelsea and Aston Villa. However, Williams, who has a release clause worth €50 million in his contract, might not get a Premier League move due to his €200,000-a-week wages, considering he will demand a higher salary to leave his team.
A move that was not to be
Chelsea’s interest in Nico Williams made sense. Mauricio Pochettino has several wide attackers in his squad. However, he needs someone to boost his squad’s creativity, with the chances not flowing as freely as he would like. The Athletic Club winger was thus a viable target for Chelsea.
As for Aston Villa, they signed Morgan Rogers earlier this year, with the winter signing hitting the ground running. In addition, Leon Bailey has been exceptional this season, while Moussa Diaby is a long-term option in the final third. So, Williams might have been a luxury signing. And Aston Villa had already contemplated walking away from a deal to sign the Spaniard.
While Chelsea and Aston Villa have the financial means to pay €50 million to secure Nico Williams’s services, they do not want to take up the overall financial outlay, considering his €200,000-a-week wages. So, neither Premier League outfit will secure his services in the summer transfer window.
