FC Barcelona Target Nico Williams Signing, Call Agent: Reports

FC Barcelona are serious about signing Athletic Club winger Nico Williams in 2024, and have already contacted his agent to sound out a potential transfer according to SPORT.

The younger brother of Inaki Williams has been on the Bilbao outfit’s books since 2013, joining them when he was around 11 and later turning professional at San Mames.

In 2021, he made his debut for the senior team currently managed by ex-Barca boss Ernesto Valverde, with his maiden Spain cap forthcoming the following year.

Fast forward to mid-2024, however, and Nico becomes a free agent. His contract situation has a number of top European clubs on alert, with Aston Villa in the Premier League one of the most interested parties in acquiring his services.

Athletic Club are obviously more aware than anyone that they can lose their academy product for nothing, and know of Barca’s interest too.

They want to make him one of their biggest stars over the rest of the decade, and have made him a renewal offer of three seasons that he is still yet to take up.

In the meantime, Barca have already contracted Nico Williams’ representative Felix Tainta to see how possible it is to have him don Blaugrana.

On recent international duty, Nico Williams became close to Lamine Yamal, who he assisted so that the 16-year-old could make history as Spain’s youngest-ever scorer against Georgia. He is already good friends with Lamine’s fellow La Masia graduates Alejandro Balde and Gavi too.

This time next year, Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal could be flying down either wing at the Montjuic Stadium. Like the teenager, 21-year-old Nico Williams stands out for his dribbling skills but also boasts devastating pace akin to his brother Inaki.

SPORT believe that Nico Williams would contribute a lot to Xavi’s attack, and that his decision making and participation in the goals of the sides he plays for, whether on a domestic or international front, has increased tremendously.

With the club’s financial predicament what it is, picking Nico up for free would be a major coup in the summer transfer window and see the Blaugrana getting one over on their continental rivals.