La Liga star’s agent confirms Arsenal wanted him

Arsenal were repeatedly linked with a move for Athletic Club winger Nico Williams for years, up until the player signed an unprecedented 10-year deal in 2025, to stay with the club until 2035.

In their announcement, Athletic Club confirmed that Williams had also increased his release clause by more than 50%. That clause had been the main reason the transfer was viable to begin with, with the player’s major salary demands making it an expensive deal to do anyway.

But with the improved release clause, it became an impossible transfer for Arsenal. When a major transfer breaks down and a player signs a new contract, there are always questions about whether the ‘buying club’ was really as interested as the media made it seem.