Nico Williams has confirmed recent comments from his agent that he had plenty of options to leave Athletic Club before extending his contract, with Arsenal among the interested clubs.
Following recent comments from Nico Williams’ agent about the transfer interest in him in 2024 and 2025, the player has confirmed that he had many opportunities to leave Athletic Club for the likes of Arsenal or Barcelona.
“I could have left, with countless offers, but I was clear about staying here,” Williams explained.
Arsenal were repeatedly linked with a move for Williams for years, up until the player signed an unprecedented 10-year deal in 2025, to stay with the club until 2035.
In their announcement, Athletic Club confirmed that Williams had also increased his release clause by more than 50%.
That clause had been the main reason the transfer was viable to begin with, with the player’s major salary demands making it an expensive deal to do anyway. But with the improved release clause, it became an impossible transfer for Arsenal.
Williams agent explained in October: “We all know about Barca’s interest in the summer of 2024, after the Euros. Barca, Arsenal, Bayern, Liverpool, PSG… I could name them all. Everyone wanted Nico, and it’s not easy for a player to say no to all those clubs. Nico was thinking of leaving.”
Tainta added that Williams ultimately decided to stay loyal to the club that gave him his breakthrough. But with Williams’ latest comments that he was always clear about staying, the winger is painting an even clearer picture of his intentions.
Williams has one goal in eight games so far this season, having missed a couple of matches with a muscle injury in October.
- Nico Williams confirms ‘countless offers’ during Arsenal transfer pursuitNico Williams has confirmed recent comments from his agent that he had plenty of options to leave Athletic Club before extending his contract, with Arsenal among the interested clubs. Following recent comments from Nico Williams’ agent about the transfer interest in him in 2024 and 2025, the player has confirmed that he had many opportunities…
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