Nico Williams isn’t going anywhere. The 22-year-old Spanish international has signed a contract extension with Athletic Club that runs through June 30, 2035, a deal reportedly worth approximately €21M per year that cements him as one of the best-paid players in La Liga and almost certainly the highest-paid player in Athletic Club’s 127-year history.
The renewal, announced on July 4 and formally signed on July 15, adds eight years to a previous agreement that was set to expire in 2027. His release clause has also jumped by more than 50%, climbing to roughly €90M from the previous range of €58-62M. For a club that only fields players with ties to the Basque Country, keeping a talent like Williams is existential, not just strategic.
Barcelona’s loss, Bilbao’s triumph
The backstory here makes the commitment even more notable. Barcelona reportedly reached a verbal agreement with Williams, who would have been one of the splashiest signings in recent Camp Nou history. But Barcelona being Barcelona in 2025, the deal fell apart over the club’s well-documented wage budget constraints and player registration issues.
Williams could have waited. He could have pushed for a move. Instead, he chose the club where he’s been since he was a kid in the under-12 academy, the same club where his older brother Iñaki also plays.
