Nico Williams made his Athletic Bilbao debut in 2021 Barcelona have agreed personal terms with Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams but there are still obstacles to overcome before the player gets his wish to join the Catalan club. Spain international Williams, who has scored 31 times in 167 appearances for Bilbao, has attracted interest from Arsenal and Bayern Munich this summer. But the 22-year-old agreed terms over a six-year deal that will see him link up with close friend andinternational team-mate Lamine Yamalat the Nou Camp. Williams asked Yamal to help him get to Barcelona, after a season in Bilbao where he helped them reach the Champions League and the Europa League semi-finals. Barcelona explored a deal for Liverpool winger Luis Diaz earlier in the summer but were put off by the Reds' £80m valuation of the Colombia international. Williams has a 62m euros (£53m) release clause in his contract at San Mames, which Barcelona have indicated they are happy to activate. Sporting director Deco met with Williams and his representatives in Ibiza earlier this week, where a verbal agreement was agreed. Williams enjoyed the best goalscoring season of his career last term, scoring 11 times in 41 matches in all competitions. His campaign came on the back of winning Euro 2024 with Spain as Williams opened the scoring in the 2-1 final victory against England in Berlin. While Barcelona have put a deal for Williams in place, the club remain under strict financial constraints. The '1:1 rule' states that the club can only spend as much as their income and accounts allow, with La Liga calculating a limit based on the club's expected income. Club president Joan Laporta says the club will comply with that rule but it is not clear yet how they will be able to finance their summer arrivals, as renovations to the Nou Camp has increased club debt, and income is still insufficient. Barcelonasigned Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garciaearlier this week in a 25m euros (£21.3m) deal and La Liga president Javier Tebas has warned that the club will not be able to register new players unless they prove they are compliant with their financial rules. "One thing is to make the signing of Joan Garcia official and another is to register him," said Tebas. "Barca has to do things to be able to register him, not many, but they have to do things and they already know what they are, I'm not going to say them." La Ligarevoked Barcelona's registration of midfielder Dani Olmoin January, having given the club permission to temporarily register him following his arrival from RB Leipzig. The league claimed Barcelona had failed to prove they were complying with financial rules by a deadline of 31 December. Spain's National Sports Council (CSD) later overruled the decision, allowing Barcelona to reinstate Olmo.
Barca close in on Athletic Bilbao winger Williams
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"Barcelona Negotiates Personal Terms with Athletic Bilbao Winger Nico Williams"
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TruthLens AI Summary
Nico Williams, the 22-year-old winger from Athletic Bilbao, has reportedly agreed to personal terms with FC Barcelona, marking a significant step toward his potential transfer to the Catalan club. Williams has emerged as a promising talent in La Liga, having made his debut for Bilbao in 2021 and scoring 31 goals in 167 appearances. His performances have attracted interest from several top clubs, including Arsenal and Bayern Munich, but it appears that Barcelona is his preferred destination. The agreement would see him sign a six-year contract that would reunite him with his international teammate, Lamine Yamal. Williams played a crucial role in Bilbao's recent successes, helping the team reach both the Champions League and the Europa League semi-finals last season, where he notably scored 11 goals in 41 matches across all competitions. Furthermore, he contributed to Spain's victory at Euro 2024, scoring in the final against England, which has further elevated his profile in European football.
Despite reaching an agreement with Williams, Barcelona faces significant financial hurdles that could complicate the transfer. The club is currently bound by La Liga's '1:1 rule', which restricts their spending to match their income, a situation exacerbated by ongoing renovations at the Nou Camp that have increased their debt. Club president Joan Laporta has acknowledged the necessity to comply with financial regulations, but the exact means of financing new arrivals, including Williams, remains unclear. Recently, Barcelona signed goalkeeper Joan Garcia from Espanyol for €25 million, but La Liga president Javier Tebas has emphasized that the club must demonstrate compliance with financial rules before being able to register new signings. This was highlighted by a previous incident involving midfielder Dani Olmo, whose registration was revoked due to compliance issues. As Barcelona navigates these challenges, the club's ability to secure Williams and potentially other targets will depend on their financial strategy moving forward.
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