Bayern Munich's pursuits towards Williams were halted due to the player's wage expectations.
Nico Williams has agreed to a new contract with Athletic Bilbao that will keep him at the Spanish club until 2035, making him the highest-paid player at the club with a salary of approximately €10 million per year net.
The new deal, announced on Friday, significantly increased Williams' pay from his previous salary and raised his buyout clause to over €95 million, making him a formidable asset for the Basque club. The increased buyout clause acts as a strong deterrent to interested clubs such as Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, and Arsenal, who had shown interest in the young talent.
Despite the lucrative offers from these top-tier clubs, Williams chose to stay at Athletic Bilbao for personal and emotional reasons. Prior to this renewal, there were rumours of Williams demanding wages as high as €12 million gross per year from Barcelona, but he ultimately chose the contract with Athletic Bilbao.
The contract extension did not affect Bayern Munich's decision not to sign Williams, according to the club's sporting director, Max Eberl, who stated that the salary demands were too high for the German club. Bayern Munich is now looking for offensive reinforcements after Mathys Tel moved to Tottenham Hotspur.
Leroy Sané has joined Galatasaray Istanbul on a free transfer, leaving Bayern Munich in search of a new offensive player. Despite the interest in Williams, Bayern Munich has ruled out signing him due to financial reasons.
Williams' contract extension with Athletic Bilbao does not rule out the possibility of him being a transfer target for other clubs in the future. The new contract reflects a substantial commitment from both player and club, showing their mutual desire to work together for the long term.
While the contract extension of Nico Williams with Athletic Bilbao has made him a high-earning footballer in the European leagues, it seems that his salary demands remain above the budget of Bayern Munich. This implies that other clubs in European-leagues, including Premier League teams like Chelsea and Arsenal, might still show interest in the promising footballer in the future.
