FC Barcelona’s pursuit of Nico Williams has ended in disappointment — again. Just when fans thought the flashy winger was heading to Camp Nou, the deal collapsed faster than a Barca counterattack under pressure.
After weeks of talks and growing excitement in Catalunya, Williams has instead signed a new 10-year contract with Athletic Club.
That’s right — a full decade. And while the Basque club celebrates, Barcelona are left licking their financial wounds, once more caught offside by La Liga’s financial fair play rules.
The Catalan giants had reportedly agreed personal terms with the Spanish international. But any dreams of unveiling him in Blaugrana colors were quickly dashed.
La Liga confirmed that Barcelona still fall short of the 1/1 financial threshold, which allows clubs to freely register new signings. In short, they can’t spend what they don’t have — even if it’s for a player as electric as Nico.
To make matters worse, Athletic Club didn’t miss the chance to poke the bear. Along with the contract news, they added the cheeky hashtag “#AthleticWIN” — a clear dig at their rivals in red and blue.
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What Nico Williams said?
The new deal comes with a hefty release clause now in the region of €95 to €100 million – a significant jump from the previous €58 million tag, signaling just how much value the club places on their homegrown gem.
Athletic’s sporting director Mikel González played a key role once again, having previously jetted off to Germany during Euro 2024 to personally persuade Nico to stay loyal to his roots.
Fast forward a year, and that trust-building mission seems to have paid off handsomely.
Speaking like a man deeply connected to his roots, Nico made it clear this was more than just a football decision. “When it comes to decisions, I always follow my heart,” he said. “And my heart is here – this is home, with my people.”
Alongside the increased release clause, the new agreement also includes a well-earned bump in salary, rewarding the winger for his consistently electrifying performances.
With top European clubs circling, Athletic have made it crystal clear: if you want Nico, you’ll have to break the bank.
How can Barcelona overcome their unresolved financial shortfalls?
Barcelona’s biggest headache? A €100 million deal from late 2024, involving the sale of Camp Nou hospitality boxes. That transaction was later canceled by La Liga in April 2025, throwing the club’s financial plan into chaos.
Since then, Barca have tried to lighten the wage bill. Loans and sales involving Ansu Fati, Lenglet, and others have saved millions.
But under current La Liga rules, clubs not meeting the 1/1 requirement can only reinvest a small part of those savings. That means Barcelona could only use 60% to 70% of salary saved and just 20% of profits from player sales.
Until that €100 million gap is covered, big signings like Nico will keep slipping away.
Or worse, signing a player without being able to register them — the football version of buying boots without a pitch to play on.
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