Barcelona have reportedly reached an “agreement in principle” to sign Athletic Club’s Nico Williams, finalizing personal terms with the Spanish Euro 2024 sensation. The next step for the Catalan giants is to meet the winger’s release clause, set at €58 million (£49m/$63m).
Athletic Club has been firm that they will not negotiate and any suitor must pay the release clause in full to secure Williams’ transfer. Barcelona President Joan Laporta expressed his admiration for Williams and confidence in completing the signing. He stated, “Obviously I like him, and very much. Today we can afford to sign Nico Williams.”
Laporta also mentioned that Barcelona is working diligently to navigate financial constraints and adhere to La Liga’s financial regulations. He assured that the club is optimistic about returning to financial normalcy soon.
There is urgency to finalize the transfer as Williams prioritizes a move to Barcelona but expects the deal to be completed by the first week of August, allowing Athletic Club time to find a replacement.
Williams has been pivotal for Spain in Euro 2024, showcasing his talent and forming a formidable partnership with Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal. Barca aims to replicate this successful pairing at the club level, under the tactical guidance of former Bayern Munich manager Hansi Flick for the upcoming 2024/2025 season.
The agreement with Williams’ camp was achieved through recent meetings with his agent, Felix Tainta. Barcelona’s focus now is to raise the necessary funds to trigger the 21-year-old’s release clause.
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