FC Barcelona has received a hard blow after the unexpected renewal of Nico Williams with the Athletic Club of Bilbao for a ten -year contract, until 2035, with a termination clause that exceeds 90 million euros. This movement, announced on July 4, 2025, frustrated the hopes of the Barca club, which saw the end of 22 years as a “market opportunity” to reinforce its attack, especially for its connection with Lamine Yamal and its express desire to dress from Blaugrana. However, Barça does not stop and, according to nearby sources, is about to close the signing of another young talent of 22 years that surpassed Lamine Yamal in contributions (goals and assists) during the 2024/2025 season.
A new goal for the attack
Although the name of the player has not been officially confirmed, the rumors point to an extreme of characteristics similar to those of Nico Williams, with speed, overflow and ability to generate danger in the rival area. Last season, Lamine Yamal, with 17 years, registered 7 goals and 10 assists in 50 games with Barça, consolidating itself as an emerging star. The new goal of the club, according to reports, would have overcome these figures, which makes it an attractive commitment to Hansi Flick, who seeks to reinforce the left wing after frustration with Williams and the difficulty in signing Luis Díaz, Deco priority.
Context of the operation
The renewal of Nico Williams with Athletic, which includes an increase of more than 50% in its termination clause (from 58 to more than 90 million euros), surprised Barça, which had reached a verbal agreement with the player for a six seasons contract. Williams’ decision, influenced by the possibility of playing the Champions League with Athletic and Captaincy of his brother Iñaki, left the Catalan club in a complicated position, especially because of the tensions with Athletic, which demanded the strict compliance with the Financiero Financiero de LaLiga standards.
Given this setback, Barça has reactivated his plan B, focusing on a young player who fits his philosophy of play and budget. The sports direction, led by Decco, is confident that this signing not only compensates for the absence of Williams, but also enhance the chemistry with Lamine Yamal, whose disappointment for not sharing costumes with his friend has been remarkable in social networks.
Reaction and perspectives
The culé fans, although frustrated by Williams’s “plant”, shows optimism before the imminent arrival of this new talent, which promises to be a key piece in the Flick project. The club expects to close the operation in the next few days, before the start of the preseason on July 13, to guarantee the registration of the player, an aspect that generated doubts in the negotiations with Williams. Meanwhile, Barça continues to work in its financial situation to meet LaLiga’s demands, with agreements such as the new contract with Nike and the restructuring of Barça Vision as key pillars.
The Barça signing market promises strong emotions, and this new movement could mark the beginning of a new era for the Barca attack.
