Arsenal and Mikel Arteta have been dealt a hammer blow for their transfer plans with Nico Williams 'agreeing' personal terms with Barcelona ahead of a move
12:27, 19 Jun 2025
BILBAO, SPAIN - APRIL 13: Nico Williams of Athletic Club looks on during the LaLiga match between Athletic Club and Rayo Vallecano at Estadio de San Mames on April 13, 2025 in Bilbao, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
Arsenal have been dealt another transfer blow in their pursuit of a new No.9.
Barcelona are said to have agreed contract details with Athletic Club's star Nico Williams. According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, the Spanish attacker will earn up to £41million-per-year while turning out for the Catalan giants.
Romano posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: "Nico Williams and Barça have agreed personal terms on 6 year deal! Agreement sealed on player’s contract until June 2031 with the salary in the region of €7/8m net per season. Barça are currently working on financial terms to get deal done with Athletic."
Arsenal had been interested in the services of Williams, but were dealt a hammer blow following news of Williams' preference to remain in the Spanish top flight and join Barcelona.
The Spaniard is now hoping to link up with Lamine Yamal and Hansi Flick at the Nou Camp this summer, after Barcelona's year-long pursuit of the star looks set to come to an end.
BILBAO, SPAIN - MAY 1: Nico Williams of Athletic Club looks on during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 Semi Final First Leg match between Athletic Bilbao and Manchester United at San Mames Stadium on May 1, 2025 in Bilbao, Spain. (Photo by Maciej Rogowski/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
(Image: Maciej Rogowski/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
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Williams was a standout at at Euro 2024 alongside Yamal - and he scored Spain's opening goal in the 2-1 final victory over England in Berlin.
Last season he scored 11 goals and provided seven assists in 45 appearances for Athletic Club as they finished fourth in La Liga.
Arsenal, meanwhile are still on the hunt for a new striker, with Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres both heavily linked to make the move.
Gyokeres has his heart set on a switch to Arsenal over other suitors, but a row between him and Sporting could put the brakes on any transfer.
Sporting have rubbished claims of a 'gentleman's agreement' for Gyokeres to depart for £60 million, with the club's president Frederico Varandas lambasting the player's representative.
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Sesko, meanwhile, representative, Elvis Basanovic, has rubbished claims of pressuring RB Leipzig to slash their valuation for the hotshot forward.