Barcelona had a plan. They had the player’s word. Talks had been ongoing for weeks. Everything seemed on track.
From salary terms to contract length, even the release clause was being sorted. There was one problem.
It was not the player. It was not even the club he plays for. Well, it was La Liga’s registration rules.
Barcelona have been dealing with a complicated salary structure and tight Financial Fair Play margins.
That has made registering new signings very difficult. In this case, it has cost them one of their biggest targets of the summer.
The player in question was not just any talent. He had shown he was ready for a big step up. He had played a brilliant season.
Barcelona believed he was the perfect addition to their left flank. Even the player wanted the move.
But his agent wanted to be sure he would be registered in time to play. And that was never guaranteed.
Another club made things much easier. That club did not have registration issues.
So, they had been patient, and in the end, they offered a much better deal.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Nico Williams has now signed a new long-term contract with Athletic Club.
The deal will run until June 2035. His new release clause is now more than 50% higher than the previous €58 million. He will also receive a salary increase.
The 22-year-old has officially extended his stay with Athletic Club.
For Barcelona, this is a huge setback. They had pushed hard. But they simply could not overcome their own financial limits.
So, the deal is now off. Nico stays in Bilbao, and the Catalans will have to search elsewhere.
Barcelona are also targeting Marcus Rashford and Luis Diaz. So, it will be interesting to see who will sign for the Blaugrana as they need a left-winger this season.
🚨❤️🤍 BREAKING: Nico Williams signs new long term deal at Athletic Club until June 2035!
The agreement includes new release clause for +50% compared to €58m previous one and salary increase.
⛔️ Barcelona deal OFF due to registration issues. pic.twitter.com/Ew5odMQqzL
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 4, 2025
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