Overview
- On Friday, October 16, 2026, agent Félix Tainta said on the Los Fulanos podcast that talks with Barcelona collapsed because the club could not promise Williams would be registered or get enough minutes to protect his form.
- Tainta framed the decision as career protection for Williams, saying the winger could not risk losing playing time with a World Cup approaching and must keep practising his profession.
- Barcelona had pursued Williams since the summer of 2024 and faced interest from several elite clubs including Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Liverpool and PSG, which raised the player's market demand.
- After negotiations stalled in the summer of 2025, Williams signed a long-term extension with Athletic Club through 2035 and Tainta says he kept Athletic informed throughout the talks despite the club’s displeasure with Barcelona’s approach.
- Some outlets tied the registration doubts to Barcelona’s strained finances and large wage bill, but that financial explanation has less direct corroboration than the agent’s account and could influence how clubs handle future signings.