Chelsea will not trigger the release clause worth €58 million to sign Nico Williams from Athletic Club in the summer transfer window.
According to reputed Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Nico Williams is the subject of interest from Chelsea. The Blues are keen on bolstering their attack in the summer transfer window. However, they will not trigger the release clause worth €58 million to sign the Spaniard from Athletic Club.
The rapid rise of Nico Williams
Nico Williams has become one of the best players in La Liga since establishing a foothold in the first-team squad at Athletic Club. The 21-year-old has gone from strength to strength in the last few years, establishing himself as a mainstay in the final third for his club and country.
The Spanish international was excellent in the 2023/24 season, contributing to 27 goals in 37 appearances across all competitions. Williams found the back of the net eight times while providing 19 assists. Meanwhile, the young attacker’s progress at Athletic Club has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile clubs across Europe.
Widespread reports have heavily linked the Spaniard with Barcelona, and he is ready to wait another year to join the Catalan outfit. However, Nico Williams’s next destination might be the Premier League, with Chelsea among his prospective suitors in the English top flight.
London calling?
Chelsea’s interest in Nico Williams is understandable. The Blues are scouring the market for a productive attacker heading into the summer transfer window. They have thus set their sights on Williams, with the Spanish international having the output to transform the Chelsea attack.
Recent reports have claimed that the Blues are ready to trigger the release clause worth €58 million to secure Nico Williams’s services in the summer transfer window. However, Fabrizio Romano has quashed that notion, suggesting the West London club will not cough up the required sum to sign him from Athletic Club.
An outlay of €58 million should be a worthy investment to sign the 21-year-old Spaniard, considering his productivity in the final third. So, it will be interesting to see if Chelsea and Athletic Club enter negotiations over the transfer fee for Williams in the coming weeks.
