Nico williams has reportedly decided his next club.
Athletic Club superstar Nico Williams has agreed to join Arsenal this summer, according to a sensational report in Spain.
The 22-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium for over 12 months and the Gunners were close to finalising a deal last year, before Williams opted to remain at Athletic Club.
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That is according to Spanish publication TodoFichajes, who claim that Williams has given his agent the “green light” to finalise a deal with Arsenal.
Despite competition from Aston Villa, Barcelona, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United, Arsenal “will be the ones” to sign Williams this summer, as per TodoFichajes, and he is set to become the highest-paid player at the Emirates Stadium.
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The north London giants will reportedly trigger his €58 million release clause when the summer window opens, and Williams is expected to usurp both Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli in order to become Arsenal’s first choice left winger next season.
Why did Nico Williams reject Arsenal in 2024?
Although Arsenal are reportedly s
Nico Williams makes final transfer decision after interest from Liverpool and Arsenal
Nico Williams looks set to snub a move to the Premier League this summer after reported interest from Liverpool and Arsenal.
Williams was a shining star in Euro 2024, helping Spain clinch the trophy and make history as the first team to win the tournament with a clean sweep of victories.
The Athletic Bilbao forward's performance was nothing short of spectacular, scoring two goals and assisting one, including in the final against England. Alongside Lamine Yamal, he became one of the most talked-about players during and after the competition.
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Speculation about Williams' future has been rife, with Arsenal and Liverpool among several Premier League clubs showing interest. The Gunners are reportedly on the hunt for a new forward this summer, and Williams seemed to fit the bill for Mikel Arteta's plans.
However, Barcelona appeared to be leading the
Nico Williams ‘decides’ he’s ‘going to’ Arsenal after ‘unexpected turn’ in Barcelona blow
According to reports, Arsenal have beaten FC Barcelona in the race to sign Athletic Bilbao star Nico Williams ahead of a summer move to the Emirates.
The Spain international enjoyed a sensational season in 2023/24 as he shone for his country and La Liga outfit Athletic Bilbao.
Williams‘ form at Euro 2024 attracted interest from several elite European clubs, but he missed out on a major transfer ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
Arsenalare known to be big admirers of Williams and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that they intend to spend big on a winger and striker in the summer after Kai Havertz was ruled out for the rest of this season.
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Romano said: “Even after the update on Kai Havertz’s injury requiring surgery, Arsenal’s plan remains the same: find internal solutions and focus on big signing in the summer.
“Important investment planned on a striker for the summer window (Sesko and Isak the fav names)… and winger too.”
This s
Barcelona are reportedly highlighting two major transfer targets to improve Hansi Flick’s squad this summer.
The Catalan giants are not looking to tear up their treble-winning team, and with finances on an upward curve, Flick is not being pressured to sell key players.
An extra forward has been a long-term target and Barcelona are also chasing down Espanyol goal keeper Joan Garcia as a future No.1 option.
The freshness in attack potentially meant a revival of the club’s interest in Athletic Club star Nico Williams but that is no longer the case.
Barcelona end Nico Williams transfer link
Barcelona openly pursued Williams last summer as the Basque forward played a key role in Spain’s UEFA Euro 2024 triumph.
However, despite the major push to lure him away from Bilbao, the 22-year-old opted to stay and Barcelona were left frustrated.
Despite some lingering interest in a move, club officials have taken a hard line stance, and his rejection of their previous offer has reportedly convinced the La Blaugrana board not to try again.
As the door closes on Williams, it allows Barcelona to focus on their newest priority, Liverpool’s Luis Diaz.
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Nico Williams makes final transfer decision after Aston Villa interest
Champions League, you're having a laugh!
Yes, Aston Villa are competing in European football's premium competition this season and, yes, the claret and blue faithful are having a rather contented chuckle to themselves.
Just five years after being reinstated to the top flight following a Championship play-off final victory over Derby County at Wembley, Villa have gatecrashed the established elite and are hellbent on keeping their place at the top table.
With PSR, FFP and other financial acronyms proving to be more challenging opponents than many of their Premeir League rivals last season, the powers-that-be at Villa Park have been doing some calculated wheeling and dealing this summer.
Losing Douglas Luiz to balance the books has been the biggest blow so far, but Villa's disappointment at the Brazilian midfielder's move to Juventus is offset by the arrivals from the Turin club of Enzo Barrenechea and Samuel Iling-Junior.
Then there's the exciting capture of Chelsea's Borussia Dortmund Championship League finalist Ian Maatsen and Ross Barkley's return to Witton after a p