- 56 minutes ago
Nico Williams: Romano reveals meeting as Laporta confirms transfer plan
Tom Weber
- 18 Jun 2025 12:30 CDT
- 4 min read
News
Barcelona's Nico Williams 'operation' is in full swing, with Fabrizio Romano revealing that the Athletic Club star is set to meet with Blaugrana bosses on Ibiza.
One of the biggest transfers of the summer is increasingly taking shape as Barcelona are stepping up their talks over the potential signing of Nico Williams. The Blaugrana received the green light from the player last week, and the 22-year-old has informed his other suitors that he is only willing to negotiate with the Catalans right now.
Barcelona are in the midst of studying the feasibility of signing Williams, who will cost around €60 million and command a hefty €12m salary. LaLiga president Javier Tebas recently claimed that the club will struggle to register new signing Joan Garcia and, should he arrive, Williams.
Current ETV
Nico Williams
M (L)
Athletic
Nico Williams
M (L)
Athletic
ETV Range
€63.5M - €77.7M
However, club president Joan Laporta hit back at Tebas on Tuesday, insisting that there will be no issues and confirming that a second deal is being worked on after Garcia was announced earlier on Wednesday.
"We're about to make a signing that will be imminent [Garcia], and another one whose arrival we're very excited about. The fact that we're at 1-1 allows us to make signings as normal, and we'll continue along these lines," Laporta said.
Barcelona to meet Williams in Ibiza
Meanwhile, Barcelona sporting director Deco and head coach Hansi Flick have travelled to Ibiza, not Bilbao as reported elsewhere, to meet with Williams, according to Fabrizio Romano.
"Now, it's time for the Nico Williams operation," Romano stated in his latest YouTube video. "The operation is ongoing, with Barcelona president Laporta, the director Deco, all people at the club, working to try to understand how they can make it happen for Williams.
"Nico is only waiting for Barcelona. Barcelona are working on this deal, trying to activate this Nico option. Deco is not going to Bilbao, according to my information. My information is that Deco is going to Ibiza, not Bilbao.
"Who is in Ibiza now? What I heard is that Williams is there, Flick is there, Deco will be there. I'm not saying that a negotiation will take place in Ibiza because sometimes during the summer transfer window, we have these kinds of stories.
"I don't think that's the real point of this story. The real part is the 'technical' and financial part of the story - if Barca can make it happen or not. How? When? How to make it happen with Athletic?
"Don't forget Athletic Bilbao in this story! Because Athletic have a new contract proposal for Williams ready in case he decides to stay at the club, and also they are still waiting to understand what happens with Barcelona.
"Barca want the player and the player wants to go to Barca, but the release clause is €58m to be paid in one solution, and now we have to see if, technically and with Financial Fair Play, Barca can make it happen."
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