In the summer of 2024, fresh from winning Euro 2024 with Spain, Nico Williams became one of the most sought after players in world football. His performances at the tournament attracted widespread interest, with several top clubs hoping to secure his signature.
Arsenal were among those determined to sign the Athletic Bilbao winger, making a serious effort to bring him to the Emirates Stadium. However, the Gunners faced strong competition, particularly from Barcelona, who were also keen to land the Spanish international.
Barcelona were Williams’ first choice
The Catalan club were Williams’ preferred destination and wanted to pair him with Lamine Yamal, with both players having helped Spain win the European Championship. The prospect of bringing the two teammates together at club level made the move particularly appealing to Barcelona.
However, the club could not guarantee that Williams would be registered to play, creating uncertainty over whether the transfer could be completed. Williams did not want to join another team, meaning Arsenal’s efforts failed to convince him to move to England. He eventually signed a ten-year deal with Athletic Bilbao.
Williams remains on Arsenal’s radar as the Gunners continue to hope they can secure his signature in the future. His agent has now offered insight into the interest surrounding the winger and the discussions that took place during that summer.
Nico Williams (Getty Images)
Tainta reveals the extent of the interest
Speaking to Goal, Williams’ agent, Felix Tainta, explained how many major clubs wanted to sign his client after the European Championship. He also described the difficulty of turning down so many interested teams.
“We all know about Barca’s interest in the summer of ’24, after the European Championship.
“Barcelona, Arsenal, Bayern (Munich), Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain… I could name them all. Everyone wanted Nico, and having a player say no to all these clubs isn’t easy. From there, we talked to Barca. Athletic knew because I kept them informed about the situation at all times, even though Athletic were angry with Barca for their methods. From then on, I initiated conversations.”
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