Spanish international winger Nico Williams, who was strongly linked with a move to Barcelona, will remain with Athletic Bilbao after the Basque club announced on Friday that he had renewed his contract until June 30, 2035.
"Athletic Bilbao and Nico Williams have reached an agreement to renew the player's contract for eight years, which was due to expire in 2027," a statement from Bilbao's official website said.
"His release clause will increase by 50 percent compared to its previous value," the statement added.
"When it comes to making decisions, the most important thing for me is to listen to my heart. I'm where I want to be, this is my home, Auba Athletic," the 22-year-old Williams was quoted as saying in a video posted on Bilbao's official website.
Reports in recent days indicated that Barcelona was close to completing a deal for Williams, but the Catalan club, which has been struggling financially in recent years and has struggled to register new players, was unable to complete the deal.
La Liga president Javier Tebas warned Barcelona on Tuesday that they could not officially register Williams because they had failed to comply with financial regulations requiring a balance between spending and income. He told Radio Cope on Tuesday, "Barcelona cannot register Nico Williams because they do not respect Rule 1.1, which requires a balance between spending and income."
The Catalan club had difficulty registering international striker Dani Olmo and defender Pau Victor at the beginning of last season before temporarily allowing the players to play, which became official at the beginning of this year.
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