Nico Williams seems to have affirmed his intention to stay with Athletic Club this summer after rejoining the team for pre-season training.
The Euro 2024 hero from Spain had drawn considerable interest from Arsenal, Chelsea, and Barcelona, with Paris Saint-Germain also mentioned as potential suitors.
His €58m, £49m, release clause made him an appealing target.
However, just before his return to training, it was reported that the 22-year-old was inclined to stay with Athletic, which he seemingly confirmed in a message to fans on the club’s social media platforms, “I’m back! I’m really looking forward to this season. Vamos, Athletic!”
Barcelona, who were initially the frontrunners for Williams, appeared to abandon their pursuit earlier this month, shifting their focus to Euro 2024 star Dani Olmo. A €62m deal for Olmo is now in place.
Although a move for Williams now seems unlikely, Barcelona defender Jules Kounde has expressed his desire to play alongside the winger next season, stating, “He is a great player and of course I would like to have him as a teammate. Let’s see what the club does, but if it can be done, of course we would be delighted.”
Chelsea remains interested in adding a new wide forward, though they might utilize Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku in wider positions while targeting Atletico Madrid striker Samu Omorodion.
Meanwhile, Arsenal is also reportedly keen on acquiring a new forward and has been linked with Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Pedro Neto and Galatasaray’s Baris Alper Yilmaz.
