Arsenal ready to trigger Nico Williams’ €90m release clause in blockbuster summer move

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Arsenal are preparing to activate the €90 million (£78m) release clause in Nico Williams’ contract, according to multiple reports, as the Premier League champions look to beat a host of European rivals to the signature of the Athletic Club winger.

The 23-year-old Spain international signed a long-term deal with the Basque side last year tharuns until June 2035, with the new contract significantly raising his buyout fee from around €60m to its current €90m figure. Athletic Club have made their position clear: they will not entertain any form of discount, player exchange or staggered payment structure. Any suitor must trigger the clause in full.

Why Arsenal are pushing

Arsenal ended a 22-year wait for the Premier League title in the recently concluded 2025/26 season, but fell agonisingly short in the Champions League final, losing to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties. Determined to defend their domestic crown and go one better in Europe, manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta are understood to have a transfer war chest of around £250m this summer.

The left-wing position has been identified as a priority area for reinforcement, particularly after missing out on Leicester City’s rising star Jeremy Monga. Attention has now turned squarely to Williams, with Arteta believed to be eager to add genuine dribbling ability and unpredictability to his attacking frontline.

The player and the competition

A product of Athletic Club’s famed Lezama academy, Williams joined the club as an under-12 in 2013 and made his first-team debut in April 2021. He has since made 167 senior appearances, scoring 31 goals, and played a pivotal role in Athletic’s 2024 Copa del Rey triumph – the club’s first major trophy in four decades – as well as helping the side qualify for the Champions League.

On the international stage, Williams was named Player of the Match in the Euro 2024 final, where he scored the opening goal in Spain’s 2-1 victory over England. His explosive pace and close control have made him one of Europe’s most coveted wide attackers.

However, Arsenal are not alone in their pursuit. Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City are all closely monitoring developments, with TEAMtalk reporting that Williams has indicated to several interested clubs that he is open to a move to the Premier League this summer.

What happens next

Any serious negotiations are expected to take place after this summer’s World Cup, in which Williams will represent Spain. But once Arsenal formally trigger the €90m clause, Athletic Club will be powerless to prevent the player from leaving. Beyond the release fee, the Gunners would also need to agree personal terms, cover significant agent commissions and finalise a long-term contract – all of which are believed to be well within their financial reach.

With the World Cup likely to act as a shop window, Arsenal are expected to move swiftly once the tournament concludes, making Nico Williams one of the defining transfers of the summer window.