The summer’s biggest transfer saga has a new chapter: Nico Williams has informed Athletic Club of his decision not to stay at San Mamés. The player of Ghanaian descent wants to wear the Barcelona shirt, and he’s made that clear to the Lions.

A no-nonsense exit

According to Spanish media, Nico was direct with the Athletic board: his desire is to play for Barça next season. The news hasn’t gone down well in Bilbao, but the club doesn’t plan to block the move.

Athletic is simply asking for full payment of the release clause, which is around €62 million. Barcelona will cover that amount next week, between July 1 and 2, after an initial attempt to arrange installment payments fell through.

The frustration at Athletic

The plan at Athletic was to build a project around the Williams brothers, and Nico’s departure hurts beyond football. The winger, who renewed his contract until 2027, was meant to be a key part of a long-term vision.

But the lure of silverware — and let’s be honest, the chance to play alongside his friend Lamine Yamal at Barcelona — weighed more. Not even the Champions League qualification for Athletic next season was enough to change the younger Williams’ mind.

The end of the saga

There are still a few details to finalize, but Nico Williams’ future is set. In Bilbao, they’ve already accepted that their star won’t be part of the squad next season. What’s next? Tense weeks between Barcelona and Athletic, as the curtain falls on a transfer saga that felt like it would never end.