Transfer news: Liverpool close in on Nico Williams in €80m deal

Nico Williams is edging closer to leaving Athletic Club this summer, with El Nacional reporting that several factors are pushing his departure forward, including Ernesto Valverde’s exit, creating genuine sporting uncertainty at San Mamés. According to the same report, Liverpool currently lead the race for his signature, with transfer news out of Spain suggesting a deal in the region of €80 million is now progressing. A key condition Williams inserted into his contract renewal, namely guaranteed European football, looks increasingly unlikely to be met if Athletic fail to qualify for Europe next season.

Transfer news background and wider interest

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester United were all informed of Williams’ availability back in February, with the 23-year-old expected to cost close to £87 million amid widespread Premier League interest. Williams carries a release clause worth €100 million from 2026, tied to a contract worth over €10 million net per season with performance bonuses attached, though Liverpool do not want to trigger the full clause, believing they can negotiate a deal closer to €75 million plus add-ons. Reports from Spain also claim Williams is now closer to joining Liverpool than ever before and will once again be one of the main protagonists of the summer transfer window.

Is this good transfer news for Liverpool at €80m?

At 23, Williams could anchor Liverpool’s attack for the next five to seven years, aligning with a longer-term project rather than a short-term fix, though he is not yet a consistent 20-goal winger and adaptation to the Premier League carries its own uncertainties. Yet at €80 million, below his €100 million release clause, Liverpool would essentially be acquiring a Euro 2024 winner at a negotiated discount, which changes the risk calculus considerably.

Williams thrives from the left, ranking among La Liga’s most aggressive dribblers and chance creators, living on isolation, double-movements and whipped cut-backs rather than pure goalscoring volume. That profile fits Arne Slot’s system far better than most available alternatives in the current market.

Transfer news: Liverpool offering their player for £86m world-class signing

The injury concern this season is real, but it also softens Athletic’s negotiating position, which is exactly why Liverpool see €80 million as a viable entry point. For a club rebuilding its attack after Mohamed Salah’s departure, this transfer news represents a calculated, rational bet on one of European football’s brightest wide talents.