Registration doubts kept Nico Williams at Athletic, agent says

Nico Williams stayed at Athletic Club due to registration doubts, according to his agent Félix Tainta. Barcelona's inability to give Williams sufficient certainty about his registration was the deciding factor, as reported by Mundo Deportivo. The winger ultimately renewed his deal with Athletic, which is set to run through 2035.

Tainta explained the breakdown of the summer 2025 discussions on the Los Fulanos podcast. Williams had considered a move to Barcelona as early as 2024, following the European Championship, and Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, and Paris Saint-Germain were also interested. However, the agent did not confirm if any of these clubs made formal offers or agreed to terms.

Athletic was aware of the conversations with Barcelona, as the agent kept the club informed. Williams had previously agreed to a three-year contract with Athletic in December 2023, which maintained the same release clause. Tainta emphasized that registration certainty should be a condition of any move, rather than a detail to resolve afterward.

The episode highlights that Barcelona's interest in Williams was not enough to secure the deal if the player's camp was uncertain about his eligibility to play.