Nico Williams ends Barcelona rumours, inks new Athletic Bilbao deal
The deal, which extends the contract by eight years and swells the release clause by 50 percent, is 'a resounding success', faced with 'dizzying offers' for the 22-year-old, the club said in a statement on Friday.
'When you have to make decisions, for me what matters most is the heart. I am where I want to be, with my people, this is my home,' Williams was quoted as saying in the statement.
Playing alongside his older brother Inaki Williams, Nico emerged through the Basque side's youth ranks to become a star performer, netting 31 goals over his five seasons with the first team.
His dynamic wing play helped the club win the 2024 Copa del Rey – ending a 40-year drought in the competition – and qualify for the 2025/26 Champions League.
Williams had attracted attention from European giants, with news reports linking him to Barcelona and Arsenal.
Williams has also become a regular for Spain and was named player of the match as La Roja defeated England to win the Euro 2024 final.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Qatar Tribune
8 hours ago
- Qatar Tribune
Szczesny agrees to two-year contract extension at Barcelona
PA Media/dpa London Wojciech Szczesny has agreed a two-year contract extension with Barcelona which will keep him at the Camp Nou until 2027. The former Arsenal goalkeeper has impressed since he came out of retirement to stand in for the injured Marc ter Stegen at the start of last season. In 30 appearances, the 35-year-old kept 14 clean sheets and was never on the losing side in La Liga as champions Barça finished four points clear of rivals Real Madrid. On Szczesny's response to ending his retirement in style, Barcelona said on their website on Monday: 'The Pole responded by showing he is still one of the best goalkeepers in European football. 'The Polish player's experience and maturity was a great help for coach Hansi Flick in a young and inexperienced Barca squad.' With the domestic treble at Barca last season, Szczesny has now claimed 14 trophies during his career - with more than 500 appearances.
Qatar Tribune
a day ago
- Qatar Tribune
Arsenal sign Spain midfielder Zubimendi
PA Media/dpa London Arsenal have signed midfielder Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad. The Spain international, 26, moves to the Emirates Stadium on a long-term deal after the Gunners reportedly triggered his £51 million ($70 million) release clause. Euro 2024 winner Zubimendi had previously been a target for Liverpool and was also linked with Real Madrid. Zubimendi told the club website: 'This is a huge moment in my career. It's the move I was looking for and one I wanted to make. As soon as you set foot here, you realise how big this club and this team are. 'I set my sights on Arsenal because their style of play is a good fit for me. They have shown their potential recently and the best is yet to come.' Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is confident Zubimendi can help reinforce his midfield options, having seen Thomas Partey's contract expire and Jorginho also leave the club. 'Martin is a player who will bring a huge amount of quality and football intelligence to our team. He will fit in really well and he has all the attributes to be a key player for us,' Arteta said. 'The standard he has consistently performed at over the last few seasons for both club and country is exactly why we are so excited to have him with us. We all welcome Martin and his family to the club.' A graduate of the Sociedad academy system, Zubimendi made 236 appearances for the club in all competitions at senior level and helped the team lift the delayed 2019-20 Copa del Rey with victory over Athletic Bilbao. He was also involved as Sociedad finished fourth in the 2022-23 season - their highest league finish - to reach the Champions League for only the third time in their history. The midfielder has been capped 19 times by Spain, where he was part of the squad who won the Nations League in 2023 and became European champions last year after beating England in the final. Zubimendi becomes Arsenal's second signing this summer after goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga joined from Chelsea. The Gunners are also expected to complete the signing of Christian Norgaard, with the Brentford captain looking set to join for a reported £10 million with a potential £5 million of add-ons.
Al Jazeera
2 days ago
- Al Jazeera
Mbappe nets in thrilling Real Madrid win against Dortmund at Club World Cup
Kylian Mbappe's spectacular bicycle kick was among three goals in the second-half stoppage time, as Real Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund 3-2 in a Club World Cup quarterfinal match. The drama was not restricted to the late goals, with Real keeper Thibaut Courtois using his fingertips to palm away the potential levelling goal from the game's final play. Gonzalo Garcia and Fran García scored in the first 20 minutes as Madrid built a 2-0 lead. Dortmund's Maximilian Beier scored three minutes into stoppage time, and Mbappe, who entered in the 67th, restored a two-goal lead with his bicycle kick one minute later. Serhou Guirassy converted a penalty kick in the eighth minute of added time after he was fouled by Dean Huijsen, who received a red card and will miss the semifinals. Courtois used all of the lengthy arm on his 200cm (6ft 7in) frame to tip away Marcel Sabitzer's shot just before the final whistle. Madrid advanced to a semifinal match against Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, a day after Chelsea meets Brazilian club Fluminense. On a sunny afternoon, in 30 degrees Celsius (86 F) at the 3pm kickoff, Gonzalo Garcia scored in the 10th minute and Fran Garcia in the 20th. Garcia, a 21-year-old who made only five Spanish league appearances in the past two seasons, was given the start by new Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso over Mbappe, who is still regaining fitness after acute gastroenteritis. Garcia has four goals, tying Benfica's Angel Di María and Al Hilal's Marcos Leonardo for the tournament lead. Mbappe came on for Jude Bellingham, who missed a chance to play against his brother, Jobe, who was suspended for yellow-card accumulation. Madrid beat Dortmund 2-0 in the 2024 Champions League final and overcame a two-goal halftime deficit in a 5-2 victory in this season's league phase. Los Blancos were eliminated by Arsenal in this year's Champions League quarterfinals. Madrid has won five consecutive games against Dortmund and is unbeaten in seven since a 2014 Champions League quarterfinal defeat. American midfielder Gio Reyna did not get off the bench and finished the tournament with one 13-minute appearance for Dortmund in five matches. This game drew 76,611 fans to MetLife Stadium, the site of next year's World Cup final. Seats looked filled, except for a completely empty suite level on one side. There was a moment of silence before kickoff for Liverpool's Diogo Jota and his brother, Penafiel's Andre Silva, who died in a car crash on Thursday.
