Follow-up – WAA
Javier Tebas, president of the Spanish League, announced that Barcelona is close to signing Nico Williams, the winger of Athletic Bilbao.
The 21-year-old has been linked with moves to Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, and his contract with the Basque club expires in June 2027.
Tebas said in statements reported by Fabrizio Romano, a journalist specializing in transfer market news, via his account on the social networking site “X”: “Barcelona is really close to being able to bear the release clause in Nico Williams’ contract.”
He continued: “Barcelona can pay this financial compensation, if it is within the 1:1 rule,” concluding, “Barcelona has sales approaching a billion dollars.”
Joan Laporta, the president of the Catalan club, had previously confirmed that the Blaugrana could afford the cost of the Spanish winger’s deal.
Nico Williams has made 37 appearances for the Basque side in all competitions during the 2023-24 season, scoring 8 goals and providing 19 assists.