With each passing day, Nico Williams’ move to Barcelona seems closer to becoming a done deal. After Deco’s visit to Ibiza, all signs point to the Athletic Club winger heading to the Catalan capital this summer in a move that’s set to shake up the transfer market in Spain.

The release clause and Nico’s green light

With a release clause of around $73 million (and a valuation close to $80 million), Barça will need to dig deep into their pockets to get this one over the line. Even though Nico is under contract with Athletic until 2027, the 22-year-old has already given the go-ahead to join the Barça project and link up with his good friend Lamine Yamal.

That said, there are still key details to iron out: when and how that clause will be paid, and above all, what moves Barça will pull off to stay within Financial Fair Play rules. Both Deco and Laporta are confident they can balance the books this summer and make the transfer happen without breaking any regulations.

How long will Nico sign for?

The plan is for Barcelona to offer him a six-year contract, which would tie him to the club until 2031. The exact numbers on salary and bonuses haven’t been revealed yet, but everything points to Nico Williams landing one of the top deals in the squad under Hansi Flick.

What does Barça expect from Williams?

Everything seems set for the young winger to pull on the blaugrana shirt next season and form a dream duo with Lamine Yamal. But there’s a challenge ahead: Nico will need to show that this move is about much more than headlines. Barça is counting on this signing to give the team the boost it needs to shine again at the top of European football — and Williams will have to prove he’s up to the task.