Nico Williams

Nicholas Williams Arthuer, born July 12, 2002, in Pamplona, Spain, is the winger who keeps choosing home. Known worldwide as Nico Williams, the Athletic Club and Spain left winger built his reputation on raw, direct speed: the kind that makes veteran full-backs backpedal before he has even touched the ball. He is also, alongside older brother Iñaki, half of the most compelling sibling story in modern football, the sons of Ghanaian parents who crossed the Sahara on foot and raised two Basque-bred internationals who play for two different countries.

His résumé at 23 already reads like a mid-career highlight reel. In April 2024 he was named Man of the Match in the Copa del Rey final, the night Athletic Club ended a 40-year wait for a major trophy. Three months later he scored the opening goal in the Euro 2024 final against England and walked off with the Player of the Match award as Spain lifted a record fourth European Championship. Twice Barcelona came calling with the money to trigger his release clause, and twice he said no, the second refusal sealed in July 2025 with a contract running to 2035 and an announcement video, capped by Williams himself spray-painting “WIN 2035” on his own defaced mural, that drew 65 million views in a day.

The story since has been harder. A year and a half of pubalgia wrecked much of his 2025–26 season, and a heavy tackle in Spain’s final group match at the 2026 World Cup left him fighting to return before the tournament ends. Spain, unbeaten and yet to concede, meet Portugal in the Round of 16 on July 6, and Williams has promised his World Cup “is not over.” Few players his age have already been tested this thoroughly. Fewer still have answered every test so far.

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Quick Facts

Featured Video

Video courtesy of Athletic Club.

Early Life & Education

Nico Williams was born in Pamplona on July 12, 2002, into a family whose journey to Spain remains one of football’s most extraordinary origin stories. His parents, Felix Williams and María Arthuer, left Ghana in the 1990s and crossed the Sahara Desert on foot to reach Melilla, the Spanish enclave on the North African coast. On arrival, a lawyer advised them to say they were fleeing Liberia, then in the grip of civil war, to strengthen their asylum claim. They settled in the Basque Country, where Iñaki was born in Bilbao in 1994, before the family moved to Pamplona, where Nico arrived eight years later. Both brothers have spoken openly about the sacrifices behind that journey, and it sits at the center of everything they have built since.

Football came through the family and the neighborhood. Nico started at local side CD Pamplona, moved into Osasuna’s youth setup, and in 2013, at age 10, followed his brother’s path to Athletic Club’s famed Lezama academy, the engine of the club’s Basque-only recruitment policy. Coaches immediately placed him an age group above his peers. Andoni Bombin, the club’s former head of youth methodology, has said staff considered him one of Athletic’s next stars even in the under-12s. By 16 he was training with the under-19s, and by the 2019–20 season, still a teenager, he was playing senior football for Basconia, Athletic’s third team, ahead of the club’s own schedule.

The pathway was not without weight. Athletic’s Basque-only tradition produced generations of overwhelmingly white squads, and the club did not field a Black player until 2011. Iñaki became its first Black goalscorer in 2015 and absorbed racist abuse from rival fans along the way, an experience Nico watched up close as a boy and would later face himself. His formal education ran through the academy system, standard for elite European prospects, but his real schooling came from his brother: how to carry a club, how to handle abuse with grace, and how to treat Bilbao as home rather than a stepping stone.

Career Highlights and Milestones

Williams made his first-team and La Liga debut on April 28, 2021, coming off the bench in a 2–2 draw with Real Valladolid. Ten minutes later Iñaki joined him, making them the first siblings on the pitch together for Athletic since Julio and Patxi Salinas in 1986. The 2021–22 season became his true breakout: 40 appearances across all competitions, a first senior brace against Atlético Mancha Real in the Copa del Rey, and, at 19, the winning goal against Atlético Madrid in a Spanish Super Cup semi-final. The club handed him a first-team contract that January. He offered pace, but not yet end product: 34 league appearances that season produced zero league goals.

The polish came quickly. In September 2022 he dismantled Elche almost single-handedly, forcing an own goal, winning a penalty, and scoring his first La Liga goal at the same ground where Iñaki had scored his own first league goal seven years earlier. The 2022–23 campaign also brought the ugliest chapter of his young career: after missing chances in a Copa del Rey semi-final defeat to Osasuna, he temporarily deactivated his social media under a flood of abusive messages, then scored the winner against Espanyol four days later. Under returning coach Ernesto Valverde in 2023–24, everything clicked. Stationed on the left of a front three with Iñaki on the right, he registered 11 La Liga assists, the second most in the division, and in the Copa del Rey final against Mallorca he set up Oihan Sancet’s goal and was named Man of the Match as Athletic won on penalties: the club’s first major trophy in 40 years, celebrated with the fabled gabarra barge parade down the Nervión. Athletic finished fifth, their best league position in eight years, and Williams placed 15th in the 2024 Ballon d’Or.

His international rise ran in parallel. Called up by Luis Enrique in September 2022, he debuted against Switzerland, scored his first Spain goal against Jordan that November, and made four appearances at the 2022 World Cup before Morocco eliminated Spain on penalties. Injury cost him a place at the 2023 Nations League Finals, which Spain won without him. Euro 2024 was his coronation: Man of the Match against Italy in the group stage, then a goal, an assist, and 100 percent passing accuracy against Georgia in the round of 16, the first player to combine all three in a match at the tournament. In the Berlin final against England, he swept in Lamine Yamal’s pass for the opening goal of a 2–1 win and was named Player of the Match, later earning a place in the Team of the Tournament. Back at club level in 2024–25 he scored five times in Athletic’s run to the Europa League semi-finals, including decisive goals against Roma and Rangers, and made the competition’s Team of the Season, though the club fell short of a final that would have been staged in their own San Mamés. He also started the 2025 Nations League final, which Spain lost to Portugal on penalties.

Then came the saga that defined his 2025. Barcelona, having pursued him in 2024, returned with intent, and reports had personal terms agreed before the deal collapsed over Athletic’s insistence on full payment of the release clause and Barcelona’s registration problems under La Liga’s spending rules. Angry locals twice defaced his mural in Barakaldo. On July 4, 2025, Williams answered with a 10-year contract through 2035, a release clause reported at around €90 million, and a renewal video in which a hooded figure respray-painting the mural with “WIN 2035” was revealed to be Williams himself. The video drew 65 million views in a day and later won Spanish football’s award for best social media content of the year. The season that followed was a grind: persistent pubalgia limited him to three Champions League appearances and forced a mid-season shutdown for treatment in February 2026, though his November solo goal against Real Oviedo won La Liga’s Goal of the Month and a late-spring return brought two goals and an assist in one afternoon at Alavés. At the 2026 World Cup he worked back from a pre-tournament hamstring issue into a substitute role, only for a stoppage-time tackle by Uruguay’s Nicolás de la Cruz in the final group game to leave him with a right adductor injury. Spain marched on regardless, beating Austria 3–0 to set up a Round of 16 meeting with Portugal on July 6, and coach Luis de la Fuente has said Williams should be available from that stage.

Selected Career Highlights

• 2019–20: Makes his senior debut for Basconia, Athletic Club’s third team, at 17
• April 28, 2021: First-team and La Liga debut against Real Valladolid; joins Iñaki on the pitch as Athletic’s first sibling pairing since 1986
• January 2022: First senior goals with a Copa del Rey brace against Atlético Mancha Real, then the winner against Atlético Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final at age 19
• September 11, 2022: Player of the Match against Elche, scoring his first La Liga goal at the same ground where Iñaki scored his first
• September 24, 2022: Senior Spain debut against Switzerland under Luis Enrique
• November–December 2022: First Spain goal against Jordan, then four appearances at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar
• April 6, 2024: Man of the Match in the Copa del Rey final against Mallorca, assisting the goal as Athletic end a 40-year trophy drought
• June 30, 2024: Goal, assist, and 100 percent pass accuracy against Georgia in the Euro 2024 round of 16, a tournament first
• July 14, 2024: Scores the opening goal and is named Player of the Match in the Euro 2024 final win over England in Berlin
• October 2024: Finishes 15th in the Ballon d’Or voting
• 2024–25: Five Europa League goals, including decisive strikes against Roma and Rangers, in Athletic’s run to the semi-finals; named to the competition’s Team of the Season
• June 2025: Starts the UEFA Nations League final as Spain finish runners-up to Portugal on penalties
• July 4, 2025: Rejects Barcelona for a second consecutive summer and signs a 10-year contract with Athletic Club through 2035
• May 25, 2026: Named in Spain’s 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Major Recognition

• UEFA European Championship winner with Spain (2024)
• Player of the Match in the UEFA Euro 2024 final
• UEFA Euro 2024 Team of the Tournament selection
• Copa del Rey champion with Athletic Club (2023–24) and Man of the Match in the final
• UEFA Europa League Team of the Season (2024–25)
• 15th place in the 2024 Ballon d’Or
• UEFA Nations League runner-up with Spain (2024–25)
• La Liga Play of the Month (August 2023, December 2023) and La Liga Goal of the Month (November 2025)

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Awards and Accolades

Career Stats & Records

Apps and Goals cover all club competitions (league, cup, Europe, Super Cup). Asterisked assist figures are La Liga-only; all-competition assist totals for early seasons are not consistently published and are shown as N/A. His 11 league assists in 2023–24 were the second most in La Liga. Career La Liga totals: 157 appearances, 22 goals, 23 assists.

Club & National Team History

Club Career

National Team Career

Senior caps: 30 through September 2025 plus three 2026 World Cup group appearances; any autumn 2025 qualifier caps pending verification against RFEF records.

Net Worth, Income, & Lifestyle

Social Media & Online Presence

Impersonation warning: several convincing fan pages mimic his name and imagery. His verified Instagram handle uses an underscore and the number 9, and his X handle spells “willliamsss” with three of each repeated letter.

NOTE: In addition to the official accounts listed above, many fan-run pages, clip accounts, and statistical tracker accounts exist across Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, and Reddit dedicated to Nico Williams. These are not confirmed to be affiliated with him. Links and usernames can change at any time.

Trivia & Lesser-Known Facts

• He wears “Williams Jr” on the back of his shirt, including in Spain matches where Iñaki is not involved, a permanent nod to the older brother who paved his way.
• The “WIN” in his famous “WIN 2035” renewal video is an acronym: Williams, Iñaki, Nico. The video’s 65 million single-day views outdrew Real Madrid’s entire channel output that day, per club figures.
• His parents were advised by a lawyer to say they were from war-torn Liberia when they arrived in Spain from Ghana, a detail the brothers only learned and shared publicly as adults.
• The brothers represent different countries by choice: Iñaki chose Ghana, their parents’ homeland, in 2022, while Nico committed to Spain, meaning both played at the 2022 and 2026 World Cups for different nations.
• At Euro 2024 he became the first player in the tournament’s history to record a goal, an assist, and 100 percent passing accuracy in a single match, against Georgia in the round of 16.
• Athletic’s coaches pushed him an age group above his peers from the day he arrived at Lezama at age 10, and he was playing for the club’s third team two years ahead of schedule.

Quotes

“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!”

– Nico Williams, Athletic Club renewal announcement (July 4, 2025)

“We made history!”

– Nico Williams, post-match interview after the Euro 2024 final, Associated Press (July 14, 2024)

“I had a really bad time, I overthought everything and I didn’t believe in myself.”

– Nico Williams, on the abuse he received after the 2023 Copa del Rey semi-final, Marca (April 8, 2023)

“Today is one of the worst days of my life. I’m injured again after a very complicated year, in which pubalgia won many battles against me, but not the war. I overcame it with work, sacrifice and, above all, responsibility.”

– Nico Williams, statement on X after his injury against Uruguay, translated from Spanish (June 27, 2026)

“I was devastated after getting injured because I didn’t know what had happened. Then, after the medical tests, I was praying for a miracle, and fortunately it came.”

– Nico Williams, Spanish public television (July 2026)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is Nico Williams’s age?
A: He is 23 years old, born July 12, 2002, in Pamplona, Spain. He turns 24 during the 2026 World Cup.

Q: What team does Nico Williams play for?
A: He plays left wing for Athletic Club (Athletic Bilbao) in La Liga, under contract through 2035, and for the Spain national team.

Q: Are Nico Williams and Iñaki Williams brothers?
A: Yes. Iñaki, eight years older, is Athletic Club’s captain and plays internationally for Ghana, their parents’ homeland, while Nico chose Spain. Both starred for the same club while representing different countries at the World Cup.

Q: What is Nico Williams’s career highlight?
A: Scoring the opening goal and winning Player of the Match in the Euro 2024 final against England, weeks after being named Man of the Match in the Copa del Rey final that ended Athletic’s 40-year trophy drought.

Q: How tall is Nico Williams?
A: He stands 5 ft 11 in (1.81 m).

Q: Why did Nico Williams reject Barcelona?
A: Twice, in 2024 and 2025, moves collapsed over Athletic’s demand for full payment of his release clause and Barcelona’s registration constraints. In July 2025 he signed through 2035, saying he listened to his heart and that Bilbao is his home.

Q: What are Nico Williams’s official social accounts?
A: Instagram @nicolas_williams9 and X @willliamsssnico. He has no confirmed official TikTok.

Upcoming Projects / Season Outlook

• 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout rounds (July 2026): Spain, unbeaten and yet to concede, face Portugal in the Round of 16 on July 6 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Coach Luis de la Fuente has indicated Williams should be available from this stage as he recovers from his adductor injury, though his minutes are expected to be managed carefully. The final is scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium.
• Recovery and load management (2026): His pubalgia was managed without surgery through 2025–26, and how Athletic and Spain handle his workload into next season is expected to shape his availability. All timelines remain subject to medical evaluation.
• 2026–27 season with Athletic Club (starts August 2026): He is expected to anchor the left wing as the club looks to rebound from an injury-wrecked 2025–26 campaign. European qualification status for next season should be confirmed against final league standings.
• Endorsement campaigns (2026, subject to change): As a headline Nike football face and reported Red Bull athlete, he is expected to feature in World Cup-timed campaigns, subject to brand scheduling.
• Awards window (fall 2026): A deep Spain run and a healthy return could put him back in Ballon d’Or contention, though this depends entirely on fitness and results.

Interviews & Features

• BBC Sport, “A story of human trafficking, hope and love” (June 30, 2024), Guillem Balagué’s definitive telling of the Williams family’s journey from Ghana to the Basque Country.
• Sky Sports, “Nico Williams: The rise of Athletic Club and Spain winger” (May 1, 2025), inside the academy years, with Athletic’s former youth chief on spotting a star in the under-12s.
• The Coaches’ Voice, “Nico Williams: position and style of play” (January 2025), UEFA-licensed coaches break down his dribbling patterns, two-footedness, and finishing.
• ESPN, “Spain’s Nico Williams on injury: One of worst days of my life” (June 2026), his emotional response to the World Cup setback against Uruguay.
• The Times, “Meet Nico Williams: Spain’s other star winger at Euro 2024” (July 12, 2024), a birthday-eve profile published two days before he scored in the final.

Public Appearances, Games, & Events

• Copa del Rey gabarra parade (April 11, 2024): Rode Athletic’s legendary trophy barge down the Nervión river in Bilbao before an estimated one million fans celebrating the club’s first major title in 40 years.
• UEFA Euro 2024 Final (July 14, 2024): Scored the opener and collected the Player of the Match award at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, then joined Spain’s trophy celebrations in Madrid the following day.
• 2026 World Cup, Spain vs Uruguay (June 26, 2026): Featured as a substitute in Spain’s 1–0 group-stage win in Guadalajara, Mexico, the match in which he suffered his adductor injury.
• 2026 World Cup Round of 16, Portugal vs Spain (July 6, 2026): Scheduled clash at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, targeted as his return match.