| Age | 23 years |
| Date of birth | July 12, 2002 |
| Height, weight | 181 cm, 67 kg |
| Place of birth | Pamplona, Spain |
| Citizenship | Spain (also has Ghanaian heritage) |
| Position | Left winger (can also play as right winger) |
| Club | Athletic Bilbao (Athletic Club) |
| Number | 10 |
| At the club since | 2021 |
| Contract until | June 30, 2035 |
| Contract extension | July 4, 2025 |
| Market value | ≈ €60 million |
| Eye color | Brown |
| Preferred foot | Right |
| Agent | Félix Tainta (AC Talent) |
Biography of Nico Williams
Nico Williams was born on July 12, 2002, in Pamplona and joined the Athletic Bilbao academy in 2013 after moving from Osasuna. He took his first steps in senior football with the farm club Basconia (2019-20), and in May 2020 he was promoted to the reserve team. His La Liga debut came on April 28, 2021, in a match against Real Valladolid - that evening he and his older brother Iñaki both appeared on the pitch at the same time, which became the first such case for the club since 1986.
In January 2022, Nico scored his first goals for the first team in the Copa del Rey, and soon afterward netted the winning goal in the Spanish Super Cup semifinal against Atletico. In the 2022-23 season he secured a regular place in the starting lineup, consistently creating chances from the left wing and scoring decisive goals in La Liga.
During the 2023-24 campaign he became a key attacking figure for Ernesto Valverde's team. In April 2024, in the Copa del Rey final against Mallorca, he provided an assist and was named man of the match; Athletic won their first major trophy in 40 years. That same year he finished 15th in the Ballon d'Or voting.
In the summer of 2025, after extensive transfer rumors, he extended his contract with Athletic until 2035; according to reports, the release clause increased to around €90 million. In the 2024-25 season he helped the club qualify for the Champions League, and in the Europa League he scored five goals and was included in the tournament's team of the season.
He made his debut for the Spain national team in 2022. At Euro 2024 he became one of the team's leaders: he scored in the round of 16 and opened the scoring in the final against England, where he was named man of the match. Spain won the tournament, claiming their fourth European Championship title.
Personal life of Nico Williams
Nico Williams is the son of Ghanaian refugees. His parents crossed the Sahara to reach Melilla and later settled in the Basque Country. Nico's older brother is Iñaki Williams, also a professional footballer; the brothers play together for Athletic, but represent different national teams internationally: Nico plays for Spain, while Iñaki represents Ghana.
At both club and international level, Nico often wears the name Williams Jr on his shirt. He maintains a close friendship with Lamine Yamal, which fueled rumors about a potential move to Barcelona in the summer of 2025.
Williams prefers not to reveal details about his personal life and rarely comments on matters outside football.
Interesting facts about Nico Williams
- When moving to Spain, his parents, on the advice of a lawyer, listed their country of origin as Liberia, which was experiencing a civil war at the time.
- In 2024 he became the best player of the Euro final, scoring in the decisive match against England.
- In the Euro 2024 round of 16 match against Georgia he not only scored but also provided an assist with 100% pass accuracy - a unique statistic for the tournament.
- In 2023, due to a wave of insults on social media, he temporarily deactivated his accounts but returned shortly afterward.
- In 2025, fans in Barakaldo vandalized a mural depicting him amid transfer rumors; after extending his contract, the player referenced the situation in an official video with the slogan "WIN 2035".
- At Euro 2024 Spain, with his participation, set a record for the most European Championship titles (four).
Nico Williams statistics
Club statistics
| Club | League | Season | League Apps | League Goals | Cup Apps | Cup Goals | European Apps | European Goals | Other Apps | Other Goals | Total Apps | Total Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athletic Bilbao | La Liga | 2020/21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Athletic Bilbao | La Liga | 2021/22 | 34 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 40 | 3 |
| Athletic Bilbao | La Liga | 2022/23 | 36 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 9 |
| Athletic Bilbao | La Liga | 2023/24 | 31 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 8 |
| Athletic Bilbao | La Liga | 2024/25 | 29 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 11 |
| Athletic Bilbao | La Liga | 2025/26 | 16 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 4 |
Total for the club:
- League: 148 matches / 20 goals
- Cup: 21 matches / 9 goals
- European competitions: 16 matches / 5 goals
- Other: 3 matches / 1 goal
- Total: 188 matches / 35 goals
*Other - Spanish Super Cup.
International statistics
| National team | Year | Friendlies (Apps/Goals) | Official matches (Apps/Goals) | Total (Apps/Goals) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 2022 | 1 / 1 | 6 / 0 | 7 / 1 |
| Spain | 2023 | 0 / 0 | 4 / 1 | 4 / 1 |
| Spain | 2024 | 3 / 0 | 10 / 2 | 13 / 2 |
Total for the national team:
- Friendlies: 4 matches / 1 goal
- Official matches: 20 matches / 3 goals
- Total: 24 matches / 4 goals
Matches for the Spain national team
| № | Date | Opponent | Score | Goals | Cards | Minutes | Tournament |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24.09.2022 | Switzerland | 1:2 | - | - | 27 | UEFA Nations League |
| 2 | 27.09.2022 | Portugal | 1:0 | - | - | 17 | UEFA Nations League |
| 3 | 17.11.2022 | Jordan | 3:1 | 1 | - | 18 | Friendly match |
Total:
- 3 matches / 1 goal
- 2 wins, 0 draws, 1 loss
Nico Williams controversies
Throughout his professional career, Nico Williams has not been involved in major public scandals related to legal violations, disciplinary issues, or serious conflicts.
Occasionally, media discussions and debates have surrounded him, mainly due to transfer rumors and interest from major clubs (such as Barcelona, Arsenal, and others), as well as pressure from fans during contract negotiations with Athletic.
In some matches he has also faced racist abuse from the stands, which caused widespread reactions in Spanish media and renewed discussions about racism in football. However, the player himself usually avoids conflicts and maintains the reputation of a professional and disciplined footballer.
