Barcelona Sporting Director Deco explains why Nico Williams was not signed

Barcelona Sporting Director Deco has revealed why the club did not sign Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams during the recent transfer window, despite the Spain international being one of the most sought-after attackers.

Williams, who has Ghanaian heritage, was a top target for both Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona after his impressive performances for club and country last season.

He made 31 appearances in La Liga, scoring 5 goals and providing 11 assists, while also playing a key role in Spain’s triumph at Euro 2024.

However, Deco explained that Barcelona opted not to pursue Williams due to their existing attacking options.

“We didn’t sign Nico Williams as we have Raphinha, Ferran, Ansu, Lamine plus Fermin and Olmo to help there,” he said.

The sporting director further emphasized that Dani Olmo’s versatility made signing another winger unnecessary. “Dani Olmo gives us more options rather than signing one more winger,” he added.

Despite Barcelona’s interest, Williams ultimately remained at Athletic Bilbao, where he has a contract until 2027. The 22-year-old’s buyout clause is thought to be around €63 million (£53 million), which may have been a deterrent for the Catalan club.