Nico Williams to Arsenal: Gunners reopen pursuit as Berta enters talks
Nico Williams to Arsenal: Arsenal have made fresh contact over Athletic Club winger Nico Williams. Sporting director Andrea Berta is now actively assessing whether a deal is feasible this summer, per Transfer Feed. Berta has held direct discussions as Arsenal push to land a wide attacker before the window closes. Nico Williams to Arsenal is, once again, a live conversation.
Why Nico Williams to Arsenal makes sense right now
The timing matters. Arsenal suffered a double transfer setback in recent weeks. Williams has re-emerged as a serious option because the Gunners need to reinforce the left side of Mikel Arteta’s attack. Interest from North London never really went away. It has been consistent since 2024. Spanish sources indicate the Premier League holds genuine appeal for Williams. Arsenal looks like an attractive destination if he decides the moment is right to leave San Mamés.
His contract carries a release clause of £77m, equivalent to €90m. Several Premier League clubs have the financial muscle to meet that figure. Arsenal, though, are the most determined candidate in the running. The 23-year-old Spaniard put in a breakout performance at Euro 2024, scoring in the final against England and earning a place in the team of the tournament. He spurned interest from Barcelona and Arsenal that summer, signing a new contract tying him to Bilbao until 2035. That decision now looks like it could be revisited.
What the 2025/26 stats say about Nico Williams to Arsenal
Williams made 25 La Liga appearances in 2025/26. He managed six goals and contributed four assists, totalling 10 direct goal involvements across the domestic campaign. A pubalgia injury disrupted his year. It limited him to just 32 appearances across all competitions. That frustrating run saw him battle recurring discomfort throughout the second half of the season. He started 20 of those league games and clocked 1,686 minutes in total. His last La Liga goal came in a brace against Alavés on 2 May.
Those numbers represent a step back from his peak. Questions about consistency are inevitable. Williams did experience a dip in form this past season, and clubs are monitoring his fitness situation closely. Arsenal appear comfortable enough with the risk.
Scorzo’s opinion
There is no guarantee this gets done. Williams signed a long-term deal at Bilbao only last year. The Basque club’s ethos around keeping its home-grown players is legendary. The release clause makes things simpler. No exhausting negotiation required with the board. Just a straight decision from the player himself. That is where it stalls or moves.
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Berta making direct contact signals Arsenal are serious. Still, serious interest and completed transfers are two very different things. If Williams decides the World Cup is the moment to step up to a bigger stage, Arsenal’s Spanish contingent and Arteta’s track record with attacking players make a compelling case. The £77m isn’t the obstacle. The player’s mindset is.