Sofia Quijada
The race to sign Spain international Nico Williams is heating up, with Bayern Munich reportedly emerging as the clear frontrunners in the pursuit of the highly-rated Athletic Bilbao forward. Despite interest from Arsenal, Chelsea, and Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern appear to be in pole position ahead of the 2025/26 season.
According to journalist Florian Plettenberg, Williams has informed the Bundesliga giants that he is open to making the move to Munich this summer. Bayern are now “actively working on a deal,” although a final agreement is yet to be reached due to the player’s high wage demands.
Athletic Club are pushing to retain their prized asset, offering an improved contract in hopes of persuading him to stay. The 21-year-old has a €58 million (£49 million) release clause in his current deal — a figure that could make him one of the most sought-after forwards in Europe this window.
🔍Premier League Rivals Monitoring
Arsenal and Chelsea are said to be leading Premier League interest in Williams. Both clubs are looking to bolster their attacking depth and see the Euro 2024 winner as a potential game-changer.
Williams previously turned down a move to Barcelona after the Catalan club activated his release clause in 2024, choosing instead to remain at San Mames. However, after an underwhelming 2024/25 campaign — where he registered 11 goals and 7 assists across 45 appearances while battling a groin issue — the winger is reportedly ready for a new challenge.
🔝Big Future for a Rising Star
Despite recent struggles, Williams has proven his quality at the international level, standing out for Spain and earning praise for his dynamic wing play and creativity. Across all competitions, he has racked up 31 goals and 30 assists in 167 matches for Athletic, with 16 goals and 22 assists coming in La Liga.
With Leroy Sane expected to depart Bayern Munich, Vincent Kompany sees Williams as a ready-made replacement who fits the club’s attacking blueprint. Their failed pursuit of Bradley Barcola has only intensified their efforts to secure Williams this summer.
With the player open to the move and the release clause straightforward, this transfer saga could accelerate quickly — especially if Bayern meet his wage expectations. Expect more twists before this one is wrapped up.