Barcelona are considering their options over a 2025 transfer move for Athletic Club winger Nico Williams.
The La Liga giants were heavily linked with a summer move for the 22-year-old following his starring role in Spain’s UEFA Euro 2024 title win.
However, despite the pressure to sell, Williams and his club resisted a move away from Bilbao, with Barcelona left frustrated.
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Despite missing out on a key transfer target, Barcelona remain open to a renewed push for Williams, as their financial situation improves in Catalonia.
Athletic will not accept lower than Williams’ full £50m ($65m) release clause and reports from Diario Sport claim Barcelona are now looking at AC Milan’s Rafael Leao as an alternate option.
Nico Williams’ Athletic Club contract, release clause
Williams signed a contract extension until June 2027 at the Estadio San Mames back in December 2023 which included the above release clause. That exit package remains priced the same throughout 2025 but it will lower from 2026 onwards.
As Barcelona’s interest remains a factor, Athletic are also working on a renewal offer, to keep Williams at his boyhood team beyond 2027.
Leao will be kept on Barcelona’s radar, after falling out of favour under new AC Milan boss Paulo Fonseca, as Christian Pulisic’s role in the team increases.
The Portugal star netted 11 and 15 Serie A goals respectively in 2021/22 and 2022/23, but that dropped to nine last season, and Fonseca does not appear to be fully convinced by the former Lille attacker.
However, with his contract running until 2028, and a valuation of £62m ($82m), Barcelona may need to make a offer a player-plus-cash deal to bring a transfer outlay below the cost of Williams.