Athletic Bilbao secures Spain winger Nico Williams with 10-year deal

Spain's Nico Williams, who scored the opening goal in the Euro 2024 final when Spain defeated England 2-1, has signed a new 10-year contract with Athletic Bilbao. The 22-year-old winger was previously linked with Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

Williams extended his contract with Bilbao until June 30, 2035, with his release clause increasing by 50% to €62m (£53m). He expressed his commitment to the club, stating, "I'm where I want to be, with my people, this is my home."

Having progressed through Bilbao's ranks, Williams made his debut for the club at 18 years old in April 2021. He has scored 31 goals in 167 appearances and helped the team secure a fourth-place finish in La Liga last season, qualifying for the 2025-26 Champions League.

The contract extension follows reports of Barcelona reaching personal terms with Williams, prompting Athletic fans to remove him from a mural alongside his brother Inaki. This development occurred after Athletic sought clarification from La Liga regarding Barcelona's player signing capabilities due to financial concerns at the Nou Camp.

Barcelona's adherence to the '1:1 rule', limiting spending to match income, has been a focal point, with Athletic expressing their interest in understanding the situation following public statements by Barcelona's sporting director and president about their transfer strategies.