Barcelona and the representatives of Athletic Club attacker Nico Williams have reportedly finalised the agreement on personal terms.
According to Spanish journalist Jota Jordi on El Chiringuito TV, Nico Williams is the subject of interest from Barcelona. The Catalan giants have been scouring the market for a wide attacker in the summer transfer window. Meanwhile, the Spanish international is also a target for Chelsea, but the Athletic Club attacker has an agreement with the Blaugrana.
The rapid rise of Nico Williams
Nico Williams is blossoming into a world-class player at Athletic Club. The Spaniard is a native of Pamplona and began his youth career at CA Osasuna before graduating from the youth division at Athletic Club. And the youngster has become a pivotal figure for the Basque outfit since breaking into the first-team squad.
The 21-year-old was exceptional in the 2023/24 season, contributing to 27 goals in 37 outings across all competitions by finding the back of the net eight times and providing 19 assists. In addition, Williams is a mainstay in the final third for Spain and has been excellent at UEFA Euro 2024.
Meanwhile, the Spanish international attacker’s exploits for his club and country have not gone unnoticed, with several high-profile clubs setting their sights on him. Recent reports have heavily linked Williams with Chelsea, with Barcelona also vying for his signature.
Where will Williams ply his trade next season?
Chelsea’s interest in Nico Williams is understandable. The West London club’s attackers have not been productive enough in the last two seasons, with Cole Palmer shouldering most of the burden in the final third in the 2023/24 campaign. So, Williams is a viable target for Chelsea, although his heart is set on joining Barcelona.
The Catalan giants hold a long-standing interest in the Spanish international and want to make him and Lamine Yamal the long-term torch-bearers of the offensive department. Barcelona and Williams now have an agreement, with the two parties finding a common ground on personal terms.
However, Barcelona might struggle to raise the funds to trigger the release clause in Nico Williams’s contract with Athletic Club. That might create a window of opportunity for Chelsea and other European bigwigs as they look to prise him away from the Basque outfit.
