Barcelona president Joan Laporta reopens door to Nico Williams after player offers himself, with Arsenal and Bayern still monitoring the situation closely.
BILBAO, SPAIN - OCTOBER 03: Nico Williams of Athletic Club runs with the ball whilst under pressure from Kristijan Belic of AZ Alkmaar during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 League Phase MD2 match between Athletic Club and AZ Alkmaar at Estadio de San Mames on October 03, 2024 in Bilbao, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images
Nico Williams actively sought a move to Barcelona before discussions with Arsenal or Bayern Munich took place, according to Mundo Deportivo, with sources close to the Catalan club confirming the winger approached Joan Laporta directly. The Athletic Club player’s gesture is reported to have shifted Laporta’s stance on a transfer that had previously been considered off the table.
The Barcelona president, who had been resistant to pursuing Williams due to financial concerns, and a desire to sign Liverpool’s Luis Diaz, is said to have been won over by the 22-year-old’s determination and enthusiasm to join the club. Internal conversations, including testimonies from players who recently spent time with Williams during Spain’s Nations League campaign, reinforced the idea that the winger is committed to a future at Camp Nou.
Barcelona’s sporting director Deco held a recent meeting with Williams’s agent Félix Tainta to clarify the financial framework of a possible deal. The club had already been made aware of Williams’s preference for the move, but the direct communication from the player and indirect encouragement from members of the squad appear to have reignited interest in the signing.
Barcelona had been prioritising Díaz, but Williams has now “got into the bidding”, according to Mundo Deportivo’s Santi Nolla. While the club continues to evaluate Marcus Rashford, 27, and Díaz, 28, the potential commercial and sporting impact of pairing Williams with Lamine Yamal has become a growing attraction. Williams is seen internally as more aligned with the club’s emphasis on youth, development, and long-term potential.
Despite the rekindled interest from Barcelona, Arsenal’s position remains one of an interested onlooker. The Premier League side, alongside Bayern Munich, have apparently already made advances to explore a deal. Whether the player’s earlier Barcelona overture will affect those talks remains to be seen, but it seems like it will.
Williams has a contract at Athletic Club that includes a £47 million release clause. Any suitor, Barcelona included, would need to match that figure to trigger a move, and while Barça are open to negotiating, they continue to suffer from financial problems.
The player turns 23 in July and has long been seen as one of La Liga’s standout young talents, contributing 11 goals last season and impressing in both domestic and international competition. His preference for Barcelona may yet scupper Arsenal’s plans, but if a deal with the Catalans fails to materialise, the Gunners could be well positioned to act.
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