Signing at risk? Barça, annoyed with Nico Williams' demands

Published New:30/06/2025 - 17:07h

Updated New:30/06/2025 - 17:07h

The 'Nico Williams operation' is a priority for Barça, but negotiations with the Athletic winger have stalled. Discover the reasons that could complicate the signing of the Basque player

June is coming to an end and FC Barcelona's main market priority is to close the signing of Nico Williams. Although the summer window is just opening, the low cost of the Athletic Club player's release clause (58 million euros) and the list of teams interested in his transfer give the 'culés' more urgency.

The operation is almost closed after Nico's 'ok' to Barça and the clear position of the Pamplona native with the Bilbao team, expressing his desire to sign for the 'azulgrana' team. However, beyond the verbal agreement with the 22-year-old player, the 'culé' board still has several loose ends to resolve with his agent, Félix Tainta.

Nico Williams asks Barça for guarantees to avoid another 'Olmo case'

The latest information on the signing of the younger of the Williams brothers by Barça points to a series of demands from the representative. On the one hand, Tainta asks the club for guarantees of being able to close his registration just after making the transfer official.

Athletic will only give the green light to the departure of the '10' as soon as LaLiga confirms the payment of the 58 million of his clause (around 62 'kilos', including the CPI), but from there to Barcelona having enough salary margin to register him, several days will pass.

Firstly, because the month of June ends without the Catalan team returning to rule 1:1. Barça has not yet resolved the income of 100 M€ corresponding to the sale of the exploitation rights of the VIP seats of the Spotify Camp Nou. There is also 40 M€ owed by Libero Football, corresponding to the sale of Barça Vision, pending to be received.

In that sense, Félix Tainta demands that the club include a release clause in Nico's contract if, by mid-August (when LaLiga starts), the winger has not yet been registered and, therefore, is not enabled to play the first match of the tournament.

Other players in their time, such as Jules Koundé and Iñigo Martínez, had similar clauses in their contracts. Dani Olmo himself also included this element in his contract, but the Terrassa native preferred to wait in January when LaLiga and the RFEF suspended his federative license and that of Pau Víctor.

And it is precisely that scenario that Nico Williams wants to avoid at all costs. The winger understands that he will accept a lower salary (around 8 million net per year) to play for Barça, as both Athletic and Bayern Munich offer him a fee higher than 10 'kilos'.

Barça does not want to take risks with the transfer of Nico Williams

Nico Williams in the match between Athletic Club and Real Valladolid in LaLiga EA Sports 2024/25

Therefore, the winger asks the 'azulgrana' team for guarantees to avoid future 'soap operas' linked to his contract. The club, however, is not willing to accept these demands, especially after his 'no' last summer, when his signing seemed to be on track at the end of the European Championship in Germany.

In addition, the Barcelona board sees no point in giving Nico the possibility of leaving in August after having previously paid his clause. The club will make an effort to deposit the money in the coffers of Athletic in a timely manner, trusting to resolve its 'Fair Play' problems during the month of July.

After all, there is still enough time for it and the financial operations are underway. For all this, the signing of the Athletic 'crack', for now, is stalled, although the 'culé' board remains fully confident in resolving the outstanding issues in the coming days.

The Pamplona native is convinced of playing for Barça and both the squad and the coaching staff are eagerly awaiting him. The Basque player is aiming to become the second reinforcement for the 25/26 season, after the signing of Joan García.