Overview

• Williams said he followed his heart and that his bond with the Basque community in Bilbao guided his choice.
• Media reports indicate his release clause rose from about €62 million to roughly €95 million with the new deal.
• Barcelona’s planned €58 million bid was stymied by LaLiga’s 1:1 financial rules before Athletic moved swiftly to secure its winger.
• Since debuting in 2021, the 22-year-old has made 167 appearances with 31 goals for Athletic and starred in Spain’s Euro 2024 final.
• The extension exemplifies Athletic Club’s contract strategy of long-term deals and steep clauses to safeguard homegrown stars under league spending limits.