Nico Williams signs eight-year contract extension at Athletic Club

Athletic Club forward Nico Williams has put pen to paper on a ten-year deal keeping him in Bilbao until 30 June 2035.

Nico's new agreement, with his previous contract set to expire in 2027, sees his release clause increase by more than 50%.

"When it comes to making decisions, for me, the most important thing is to listen to your heart. I am where I want to be, with my people, this is my home. Aupa Athletic!" the winger said in the annoucement video publish on Athletic Club's social media channels.

This renewal marks a milestone in Athletic history and reinforces a sense of trust in the club already shown by other teammates such as Unai Simón, Oihan Sancet, Dani Vivian, Mikel Jauregizar, Beñat Prados, the head coach Ernesto Valverde, and of course, Nico's brother, Iñaki Williams, the captain of what is quickly becoming at iconic and generational side.

These are ambitious Lions who not only want to win, but also want to do it with Athletic, with their beloved team, aware that in football, the greater the difficulty, the greater the merit of the victory, #UniqueInTheWorld.

Nico Williams joined Athletic Club at under-12 level in the 2013/14 season, a year after his brother arrived to Lezama. After that, Nico climbed through all the youth ranks at Athletic until making his debut as a Lion on 28 April 2021, when he was 18 years old.

In his five seasons with the first team so far, Nico has made a total of 167 official appearances and won a Copa de Rey, as well as helping Athletic qualify for the 2024/25 Europa League (where the team reached the semi-finals) and next season's Champions League.

Nico Williams' contribution to Athletic in recent seasons has been decisive. His pace and ability to defeat defenders make a difference in the Lions' attack. He has scored 31 goals, created a multitude of chances and been a constant nightmare for opposing defenders. 

Beyond his formidable performance on the pitch, Nico Williams' international reputation has grown immensely, seeing him become a valuable ambassador for the Athletic brand around the world. For example, being named man of the match in the of Euro 2024 final (which he won with the Spanish national team) and being nominated for the Ballon d'Or.

Athletic's sporting philosophy, freely chosen, is a singularity that makes the club, its Members (the owners of the club) and its fanbase proud.

The step forward that Nico Williams has taken with his renewal fills the entire Athletic family with pride, and it outlines a future that is as ambitious as it is exciting.

This is the famous Athletic, the famous Athletic Club.