While most of the transfer headlines were about Lamine Yamal signing a fresh deal with Barcelona, something just as important happened quietly behind the scenes Nico Williams made his decision too. And it wasn’t the one many people expected.
Rather than joining Yamal at Camp Nou, Nico decided to stay. He signed a 10-year deal with Athletic Club, a choice that surprised many people, especially after all the talk about him moving to Barça."
It’s rare these days to see a player turn down Barcelona. It’s even rarer to see a young, in-demand player sign a decade-long deal with any club, especially one outside the traditional top 3.
But with Nico, it’s never just about football.
It’s about roots, family and about knowing where you came from and staying true to it, even when the world’s trying to pull you elsewhere.
I Gave It Time — But Not Forever
Everyone was talking and not quietly either.
From the first week of summer, it felt like Nico to Barcelona was inevitable. Like one of those moves where the question wasn’t if, but when.
Reports said personal terms had been agreed. Others claimed Xavi was a big fan. Some even went as far as saying the deal was done pending the usual financial gymnastics Barça needed to pull it off.
But in the end, that’s exactly where the problem lay.
Barcelona just couldn’t move fast enough. Their financial issues haven’t been fully resolved. They’ve been delaying signings, shifting players around, and working under tight registration rules from La Liga. And while Nico was interested, he didn’t want to be strung along.
According to Marca, Nico told those close to him:
“I couldn’t wait forever. I had to think about my future. I wanted to be somewhere I’m supported and where I feel important. That’s here at Athletic.”
He is just a player being honest about his situation and doing what felt right.
And now, with the ink dry on a 10-year contract, he’s put an end to the transfer noise for good.
A Huge Show of Commitment
When most players sign new deals, they go for 3-5 years max. Clubs do that too, it gives them flexibility. But a 10-year deal? That’s practically unheard of in modern football.
That kind of commitment tells you a lot.
Athletic believe in Nico. They always have. They raised him through the youth system, gave him his chance, stuck by him even when things didn’t click right away.
And now they’ve tied him down until 2034. Not just that, they reportedly inserted a new release clause of around €100 million, according to Relevo. That’s a strong message: he’s not going anywhere without a fight.
This isn’t just a contract extension. It’s a clear statement that Nico Williams is the future of Athletic Club.
Why Not Barcelona?
You’d think the decision would be easy.
It’s Barcelona, one of the biggest clubs in the world. But things aren’t always that straightforward behind the scenes. They’ve won everything.
They have young stars like Yamal, Gavi, Pedri and it looked like Nico could be the next piece of that puzzle.
But here’s the truth: the timing just wasn’t right.
Barcelona’s financial situation made it impossible to make a real move. And Nico, to his credit, didn’t want to sit and wait all summer while his career was in limbo.
Football insider Matteo Moretto confirmed it earlier this week:
“Barça admire Nico, but never made a formal bid. The situation didn’t progress due to financial constraints.”
That’s it. No drama. No rejection. Just reality.
Nico made a grown-up decision: to stay where he’s appreciated, where he’ll start every week, and where he can make history.
Champions League Return Adds to the Buzz
There’s another piece to this story that makes it even more special.
Next season, Athletic Club will be back in the Champions League for the first time in over a decade. Their last appearance came in 2014–15 under Ernesto Valverde.
Now, Valverde’s back. So is European football. Nico Williams is finally set for his Champions League debut l and guess who’s lining up next to him? His big brother, Iñaki.
Two brothers of the same roots, same club. Now walking out onto Europe’s biggest stage together. You don’t come across stories like that very often. At their boyhood club. In front of a home crowd that’s watched them grow from kids into stars.
It’s the kind of football story that doesn’t happen often anymore.
Athletic Club’s Vision and Why It Matters
Athletic isn’t a club that operates like the others. Their entire identity is built on one thing: only fielding players from the Basque region. That limits their pool, sure but it also builds a stronger connection between club and player.
They don’t buy stars. They make them.
That’s what they did with Iñaki. That’s what they’ve done with Nico. And that’s what they’re trying to do with the next generation too.
Mikel González, Athletic’s sporting director, said it best:
“He is a unique and exceptional player and retaining this talent at Athletic is fantastic news,”
And he’s right. Nico isn’t just a good winger. He’s turning into one of the best in Spain. His pace, his directness, his ability to beat a defender, they’ve all improved year after year.
He’s no longer a promise. He’s not just some rising star, he’s already important for both Athletic and Spain.
At Euro 2024, he wasn’t warming the bench. And with the 2026 World Cup coming up fast, you can bet he’ll be a huge part of La Roja’s plans.
So staying at Bilbao where he’s playing every week and actually trusted is only going to push him forward.
Loyalty Still Means Something
Football’s changed a lot in the last 10–15 years. It’s rare to see players stay long at one club especially when bigger names are calling.
But Nico’s made a different choice.
He’s staying loyal to the club that raised him. He’s choosing growth over hype. He’s picking stability over uncertainty.
And for fans who still believe football is about more than just money, that means something.
In a recent interview with El País, Nico said:
“People talk about transfers and money, but for me, it’s about being where I’m loved. This club believed in me when I was just a boy. That stays with you.”
That’s not media-trained fluff. That’s real.
And it’s why fans love him not just in Bilbao, but across Spain.
What happens next ?
Now that the transfer noise has finally died down, Nico can just do what he does best.
With Athletic heading into La Liga battles, Champions League nights, the Copa del Rey grind, and the Supercopa, this season's going to be wild.
And Nico? He won’t just be in the lineup, he’ll play a very important role.
There’s pressure, no doubt. But there’s also opportunity.
If he plays well in the Champions League, people are going to notice. Bigger clubs may circle again. But this time, there’s no noise, no distractions just football.
And the €100 million clause? It won’t scare off everyone. But it gives Athletic control, and it gives Nico peace of mind.
Wanderlustsport Verdict
Nico Williams could’ve waited for Barcelona. He could’ve pushed for a move abroad. He had every reason to leave, just like many do.
But he didn’t.
He stayed. He committed. In sticking with Athletic, Nico didn’t just make a decision, he made a statement.
Loyalty in football? It’s rare. And maybe it wasn’t the easy road, but he chose it anyway.
While everyone’s chasing headlines and transfer drama, this one actually hits different.
It’s about family, home and about choosing what feels right, even when the rest of the world expects something else.
And for that, Nico Williams deserves a lot of credit.
What’s your opinion? Did Nico make the right choice staying with Athletic Club? Or should he have waited for Barcelona to figure things out? Drop your thoughts below 👇 and follow us for more real football stories, straight from the heart of the game.