Nico Williams announces he is staying at Athletic Club. The Spanish striker has released a video in which he ‘signs’ his renewal until 2035 on the mural that has been vandalized several times in recent weeks, when rumors about his departure to Barcelona were more intense.
“When it comes to making decisions, for me what weighs most is the heart. I’m where I want to be, with my people. This is my home. Aupa Athletic,” says Nico Williams in the video.
The new contract for Nico Williams, until 2035, also includes an increase in his release clause, which rises by more than 50% from the current figure of 58 million euros.
In recent days, MARCA revealed Nico’s doubts about his move to FC Barcelona. The Spanish striker wanted guarantees about his registration, due to the club’s well-known problems with LaLiga and with the recent examples of Dani Olmo or Pau Victor.
Athletic Club’s full statement
Athletic Club and Nico Williams have reached an agreement to extend the contract that was due to expire in 2027 by eight seasons, until June 30, 2035. His release clause increases by more than 50% compared to the previous one
“When it comes to making decisions, for me, what weighs the most is the heart. I’m where I want to be, with my family, this is my home. Aupa Athletic!” declared Nico Williams in the video in which the club announced his renewal.This new show of loyalty marks a milestone in the history of the club and reaffirms a path of confidence in the sporting project already initiated by, among others, Unai Simon, Oihan Sancet, Dani Vivian, Mikel Jauregizar, Benat Prados and Ernesto Valverde, as well as his brother Inaki Williams, the captain of this team that is already historic and generational. He will continue to wear the No 10 shirt inherited from Iker Muniain, with the Champions League as a new stage. His step forward in the face of dizzying offers is a resounding success for Athletic Club.Ambitious lions who not only want to win, but also want to do it with Athletic, with the team of their hearts, aware that in sport, the greater the difficulty, the greater the merit of victory, #UniqueInTheWorld.Nico Williams (Iruñea, 2002) joined Athletic Club as a youth player in the 2013/14 season, a year after his brother Iñaki arrived at Lezama. Since then, he has completed all the stages of development at Athletic until his debut as a Lion on April 28, 2021, at just 18 years of age. In his five seasons so far in the first team, he has played a total of 167 official matches and has won a Copa del Rey title, as well as qualification for the Europa League (where the team reached the semi-finals) and for the Champions League this last season.Nico Williams’ contribution to Athletic in recent seasons has been decisive, being differential in attack thanks to his dribbling and speed, scoring 31 goals, creating numerous chances and being a constant nightmare for opposing defenses.
Beyond his formidable performance on the pitch, Nico Williams’ international projection has been immense, becoming a valuable ambassador for the Athletic brand around the world, for example, when he was named MVP of the Euro 2024 final (where he was crowned champion with the Spanish national team) or when he was included in the list of nominees for the Ballon d’Or (15th)
Athletic’s sporting philosophy, freely chosen, is a singularity that makes the club, its members (who own the club) and its fans proud. The step forward that Nico Williams has taken with this renewal fills the entire Athletic family with pride and paints a future that is as ambitious as it is exciting.This is the famous Athletic, the famous Athletic Club.
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