Nico Williams rejected a move to Arsenal two years ago, with his agent revealing the winger said no to several elite clubs to secure his future at Athletic Bilbao. Felix Tainta, the player's representative, confirmed that Arsenal, Liverpool, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain all wanted to sign the then-22-year-old in the summer of 2024.
"Barcelona, Arsenal, Bayern (Munich), Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain… I could name them all," Tainta said. "Everyone wanted Nico, and having a player say no to all these clubs isn't easy." The decisive factor was playing time, with Williams and his agent concerned that a move to a superclub could limit his minutes ahead of major international tournaments.
Williams ultimately performed a U-turn on a potential transfer and committed his long-term future to Athletic Bilbao, signing a contract extension that runs until 2035. Tainta used a pointed analogy when discussing talks with Barcelona, illustrating the player's need for clear guarantees. "Nico is a Formula 1 car. If I go to your house, I can't take on your problem." the agent stated.
The decision proved fruitful for the Spaniard. He remained a key figure for his club, helping them win the Copa del Rey, and was instrumental in Spain's subsequent European Championship triumph, scoring in the final against England. In the 2023/24 season, he registered eight goals and 18 assists in 37 appearances for Athletic. His performances have been a cornerstone of Athletic's strong start to the current campaign.
Arsenal, who were heavily linked, did not trigger a reported £48 million release clause. The Gunners later addressed their wide options by securing Raheem Sterling on loan from Chelsea late in that same transfer window. Mikel Arteta's side has continued to progress, now sitting second in the Premier League <a href="/standings">standings</a> with 15 points from six games. They are three points behind leaders Manchester City and visit Nottingham Forest this weekend in their next <a href="/fixtures">fixture</a>. Bukayo Saka, occupying a role similar to Williams', is the club's top scorer this season with three goals.
Williams, now 24, has scored twice in eight combined appearances for club and country this season, having cemented his status as one of Spain's most exciting attackers. His agent emphasised that the player's priority was always his development and guaranteed importance to a team, a condition he felt was best met by staying in Bilbao.
More detail at Daily Mirror Football
