Wanted And Rare: The Story Of Nico Williams

Nico Williams has reached the pinnacle of Spanish football at just twenty-two years old. Alongside Lamine Yamal, he formed part of Spain’s dynamic winger duo that remained unstoppable throughout the tournament. Under Luis de la Fuente, the Spanish team did not lose a single match, with both wingers continuing to assist and score crucial goals. 

In the final, they were a constant threat between England’s lines, but it was Nico Williams who emerged as the main character. This is his story, and this is why top clubs like Barcelona are vying for his signature.

Name	Nico Williams
Date of Birth	12 July 2002 (22 y/o)
Position	Winger
Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Current Club	Athletic Bilbao
Former Clubs	Athletic Bilbao B (2020-21)
Transfer Value	€60M
National Team	Spain, 20 caps

The Williams Brothers’ Path to Stardom

Nico Williams’ journey is fascinating, perhaps one of the best ‘immigrant stories’ that football often hears. Nico is the younger brother in a pair, with Iñaki Williams preceding Nico’s birth.

Both play together at Athletic Club, having been part of the club’s ranks since their early teens. Iñaki broke through earlier and became one of Athletic’s most consistent performances, playing game after game without injury for years. 

It’s not every day that a brother pair plays together in harmony, especially as forwards, making it understandable that the media has picked up their story multiple times. What makes it a touching narrative is how the Williams family arrived in Spain. 

Immigrant stories, marked by financial restrictions and the search for better opportunities, are not uncommon. The Williams family hails from Ghana, and the parents of the Williams pair crossed the deserts barefoot to reach Spain. Their story is one of resilience and determination, similar to many other touching immigrant tales.

Iñaki chose to represent Ghana at the international level, while Nico preferred to offer his services to Spain, the country where he grew up. His inclusion in the Spanish national team is undisputed, as he likely feels a strong connection to Spain, having lived his entire life there. 

Driving Athletic Club’s Success Under Valverde

Reports linking the young winger to Barcelona are not new. For at least a year, tabloids have speculated about Nico Williams’ potential move to the Catalan capital. Nico has often been seen having great chemistry with other Barcelona players, including Gavi and Pedri.

The Williams brothers are an important part of Athletic Club’s recent success, especially since Ernesto Valverde’s return. These two are arguably the best attackers Bilbao has seen in decades. 

Nico is enjoying his time with the Spanish national team. He can often be seen dancing with Lamine Yamal when celebrating goals. These subtle details highlight the strong relationships between players, indicating that Spain was a united group throughout the tournament, with Nico Williams as a key part of that camaraderie.

It’s not surprising to see Nico Williams linked with Barcelona or other top clubs, particularly after his excellent performance at EURO2024. 

While he may not be another Yamal, he remains an exceptionally exciting player. Williams is fast but also smart. 

It’s easy to see why Luis de La Fuente values his profile. A dribbler that can lead counter-attacks, Williams embodies the daring spirit and commitment that Spain needed. Luis de la Fuente found in Nico Williams the perfect winger, combining pace with mental acuity.

Barcelona Needs Nico

It’s not surprising to see Barcelona’s interest in Nico Williams, given their lack of effective left-wingers. While many thought Ansu Fati would be the ideal choice, his spell at Brighton was far from successful. He was often benched and suffered several injuries, limiting his impact.

Last season, Barcelona relied on Atlético’s João Félix as the starting left-winger, but he proved to be a disappointment. Since Ansu Fati’s rise, Barcelona has struggled to find a left-winger who could consistently perform at a starter level. 

Nico Williams’ progress comes at a good time, especially considering his friendships with Barcelona players like Gavi and Pedri, which would likely ease his transition to Catalunya.

Moving Away From Bilbao Is Never Easy

Snatching Nico Williams away from the Basque metropole won’t be as straightforward as it may sound to outsiders. 

Athletic Club’s strict only-basque policy means that all players were raised in the club’s youth academy, with only a few exceptions from neighbouring regions. This creates a unique culture – once in, always in. It’s not impossible, but football hasn’t often seen Athletic Club players move on to bigger clubs. Away from their homeland, they often end up with random careers.

Nico Williams has no real reason to move to Barcelona other than the allure of Champions League football. The Athletic Club superstar has everything he needs in terms of atmosphere; San Mamés is an iconic stadium with a spectacular crowd. Athletic Club had an exceptional season, with Nico Williams as one of the main protagonists.

At Barcelona, he is likely to be just another player in a star-studded lineup. This speaks in favour of staying at Athletic Club. The Basques are notoriously difficult negotiators, and players who leave and return are often viewed unfavorably by the fans.

Can Barcelona Secure Nico Williams?

Although a move to Barcelona will be difficult, it doesn’t mean it cannot happen. Barcelona will push harder than ever unless they choose to pursue Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad), who also has strong ties to the city.

Williams would enjoy playing with Lamine Yamal and his other Spanish teammates, but it remains uncertain what the fee would look like and what the conditions from Athletic Club’s side will be.

Barcelona on the other hand, absolutely needs Nico Williams. They urgently require another winger, and he seems perfectly suited to Flick’s style of play. 

His pace is something that would greatly benefit a transition-based Barcelona, allowing Nico to continue beating his defenders, which is crucial to his game. It is clear that Williams needs to enjoy his football; that’s how Spain just won the EURO2024. 

The financial conditions remain another obstacle, as Barcelona is still looking to rebuild from Bartomeu’s era. In any case, a brilliant and pacey winger like Nico Williams will remain on Barcelona’s shopping list until the end of the summer. Whether they’ll manage to secure his signature is a question that only time can answer.