Suraj Radia
Nico Williams, Arsenal, 2024/25
© IMAGO
Arsenal have been told they will have to make Nico Williams one of their highest earners if they wish to sign the Athletic Bilbao winger this summer.
Williams has been a long-term target of Mikel Arteta and the 22-year-old rejected a move to the Emirates last summer, however Arsenal will look to revive their interest this summer and make the Spaniard one of their top targets of the window.
Arsenal reignite interest in Man Utd’s most IN-FORM player – report
Arsenal’s new sporting director Andrea Berta is understood to have made contact" href="https://www.footballtransfers.com/en/transfer-news/uk-premier-league/2025/04/arsenal-transfer-news-andrea-berta-has-gunners-in-pole-for-winger-after-nico-williams-meeting" target="_blank">understood to have made contact with Williams’ representatives as one of his first acts in the job in the hopes of beating rivals to his signing.
However, The Telegraph" href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2025/04/03/arsenal-nico-williams-transfer-top-earner-athletic-bilbao/" target="_blank">The Telegraph report that Williams is ‘expecting’ to be placed in the same bracket as Arsenal’s top earners such as Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz, all of whom are believed to be on wages of around £250,000-per-week.
With Williams also only available for his €60 million (£50m) release clause, a deal could eat a significant portion of Arsenal’s summer resources, particularly with a striker also on the agenda.
Arsenal are also expected to wrap up the signing of Martin Zubimendi for a similar fee, while the Gunners are also described as favourites to sign Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia.
READ MORE: Arsenal wages: How much does each player earn?
Arsenal set to go big to meet transfer ambitions this summer
Williams is understood to currently be earning ‘significantly more’ than £100k-per-week and, with reported interest from the likes of Barcelona and Chelsea, Arsenal will have to spend big to get their man.
The Gunners have already seen their wage bill increase by 40% since 2023, with Saka and William Saliba also expected to be offered lucrative contract extensions in the near future.
Arsenal’s interest in the buyout clauses of both Williams and Zubimendi would also mean a likelihood of having to pay both fees in full up front, giving the Premier League giants less financial flexibility with any other deals they may broker.
However, Arsenal are still determined to address all their major squad issues this summer and could reportedly turn to Viktor Gyokeres as a cheaper alternative to Alexander Isak in their pursuit of a striker.