Nico Williams' agent reveals why Arsenal transfer interest went nowhere
Nico Williams' agent has lifted the lid on why the Spain international snubbed interest from Arsenal, Liverpool, Barcelona and others to sign a new deal at Athletic Bilbao instead of pursuing a move away.
Williams has long been admired across Europe's elite, with his dazzling form for both club and country making him one of the most sought after wingers on the continent. The 23 year old has racked up 38 goals and 37 assists in 205 appearances for Bilbao, and has already won both the European Championship and the World Cup with Spain.
The Friday Injury Tracker
Who's out, who's back and what it means for the next two games.
Arsenal and Liverpool have both been searching for options out wide in recent seasons, and Williams' name has repeatedly come up in that conversation. Interest intensified in the summer of 2024 after his standout performances at the Euros, with Barcelona reportedly the frontrunners at the time.
Agent explains the decision
Speaking on Los Fulanos, as cited by Marca, Williams' agent Félix Tainta confirmed that Arsenal were among a host of clubs who made contact. “We all know about Barca's interest in the summer of 24, after the European Championship. Barca, Arsenal, Bayern, Liverpool, PSG... I could name them all. Everyone wanted Nico, and having a player say no to all these clubs isn't easy,” Tainta said.
Tainta went into detail about the breakdown of talks with Barcelona specifically, explaining that guarantees over playing time were central to the decision not to leave Bilbao. “There came a point in the negotiations, in the situation, where Nico couldn't be without playing time. Nico is a Formula 1 car. If I go to your house, I can't take on your problem, and I made that clear to Barca,” he said.
He added that the lack of assurances ultimately pushed Williams back towards Athletic. “And if you can't assure me that it won't affect me, then I might have to change my mind.”
Williams admits he wanted to leave
Tainta also confirmed that interest resurfaced again in the summer of 2025, describing the contacts as “very important” on both occasions. When asked directly whether Williams had wanted to leave Bilbao, his agent did not shy away from the truth.
“Nico had the idea of being able to leave. He's ambitious. At Athletic, you know the limitations, you know you're not going to win a Champions League, maybe a La Liga title,” Tainta explained. He said it was only after weighing up the uncertainty of a move that the winger decided to commit his future to the Basque club instead.
For now, Williams remains tied to Athletic Bilbao, with no indication from his camp that a fresh approach from Arsenal or any other suitor is imminent. Whether that stance holds beyond the current contract cycle remains to be seen.
