The truth about Nico Williams not signing with Barcelona

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Real Betis Barcelona

17/10/26 18:30:00

6.50 5.00 1.38

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Nico Williams, a 24-year-old winger from Athletic de Bilbao, turned down the opportunity to join FC Barcelona in the summer of 2025 because the Blaugrana club couldn't guarantee his registration. His agent, Félix Tainta, stated that while negotiations progressed, the risk of not being able to play led the player to renew his contract until 2035.

🎙️ Félix Tainta, Nico Williams' agent, on talks with Barça: 💥 "We decided that if there were no guarantees he could play, we couldn't take the risk." 💣 "They didn't assure us and we had to change our minds." 🎥 | YouTube @Fulanazos https://t.co/dzc9ZiCeJ1

— Diego Cobo (@DiiegoCobo) October 15, 2026

Nico Williams Demanded Guarantees from FC Barcelona to Seal His Transfer

Nico Williams' agent revealed in the podcast Los Fulanos the reasons behind the failed move to the Blaugrana team. According to Félix Tainta, contacts were established during the summer of 2024 after the Eurocup, with more advanced discussions taking place in 2025.

The operation reached a point where they needed assurances that the player could perform normally. Barcelona's issues with player registrations created uncertainty that they were not willing to take on.

Tainta believed that Williams should not be affected by the economic difficulties of the club interested in signing him. Furthermore, with the 2026 World Cup approaching, maintaining the player's competitive rhythm became crucial for the Spanish international.

The negotiations were also influenced by the relationship between the two clubs. As per the agent, Athletic de Bilbao was unhappy with Barcelona's approach, although they were kept informed about the discussions.

The agent defended his actions during the negotiations, emphasizing his duty to protect the player's professional interests and his inability to accept a deal without sufficient guarantees for his career development. Chelsea continues to show interest in the Spanish player, reportedly willing to make an €80 million offer for Nico Williams.

Nico Williams Turned Down Several Top European Clubs Before Renewing

Interest in Nico Williams wasn't exclusive to Barcelona. Félix Tainta confirmed that Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, and PSG also attempted to sign the winger after his standout performance with Spain in the 2024 Eurocup.

The player did consider leaving San Mamés to compete for titles like the Champions League. However, none of the options analyzed convinced him, leading his agent to propose extending his contract once again.

The contractual relationship with Athletic had a significant moment in December 2023. Williams then renewed until 2027, although he could have waited six months to negotiate a free transfer. That decision allowed the club to retain a release clause for the player.

Subsequently, on July 4, 2025, the winger signed a new contract extension until June 30, 2035, increasing his release clause by over 50% based on the previous contract's value of around €60 million.

Chose to Renew with Athletic

The agent claims that he proposed this latest renewal after realizing that none of the alternatives met the required sports and contractual conditions. The player accepted the proposal and discarded a move elsewhere.

With this contract, Nico Williams remains linked to Athletic until 2035, and any club interested in reopening talks will need to negotiate with the Bilbao club or face a release clause exceeding €90 million. The agent's statements do not indicate ongoing negotiations for his departure.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La verdad sobre el no fichaje de Nico Williams por el Barcelona