Nico Williams is a player the Gooners should keep an eye out for in the final days of this summer transfer window.
David Ornstein recently claimed on the Duncan Castle podcast, “The winger Arteta and Arsenal really like is Nico Williams, but the player is coveted by everybody. He is on a high wage, which will only increase if he moves to PL. Bilbao have a RC (release clause) that must be paid in full, and very few players leave the club.”
And another Arsenal source, Charles Watts, has also revealed that Arsenal is still open about a Nico Williams swoop, saying: “Nobody ever told me that the interest in Nico Williams was over, he’s a player Arsenal absolutely love. He has a release clause that can be activated at any time, I haven’t heard anything is imminent but it was the same with Thomas Partey.”
The comments above indicate that Arsenal’s interest in Nico Williams is still strong; he has a following at the Emirates Stadium. Given the winger’s £49 million release clause, which can be activated at any time, can the Gunners overlook this transfer opportunity?
Surely, if Nico Williams is ready to join Arsenal, they must sign him and give him the bumper deal he so desires. He is a difference-maker and will undoubtedly see Arsenal become title favorites. Back in 2020, Arsenal startled everyone by activating Thomas Partey’s release clause on deadline day.
Could Arsenal adopt the same strategy (activating Williams’ release clause on deadline day) to defeat all of the European heavyweights who were salivating at the idea of him joining their squad?
Sam P
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In the article Charlie Watts implies that by activating the release clause for Williams the player is somehow obliged to join the club activating it. That’s simply not true.
Every player in Spain has a release clause in his contract but it’s down to the player to agree to the move if the clause is triggered. He is free to say “no” as well as “yes”.
Last I read, and the last time I talked to my Spanish friends, Williams wasn’t interested in any move this summer. Also, it seems that his club are about to enter into negotiations with him over a new, bigger, contract.
100% the case that Charlie Watts was not implying what you suggest in the slightest. You’ve just made that up.
You’re correct however that the decision lies with Williams himself and that has always been the case and always reported as such alongside of clubs potential hesitancy at his high wages.
“He has a release clause that can be activated at any time, I haven’t heard anything is imminent, but it was the same with Thomas Partey.”
That implies that as Arsenal signed Partey, then activating Williams’ release clause will have the same effect – in other words signing Williams.
Also, you’re mistaken in saying that Williams’ decision – in the context of the release clause, not the wider context of moving or not – is always reported. It isn’t. The implication is pretty commonplace that by activating the release clause in itself can somehow get the club the player.
Perfectly put. Put is a weird word eh?
Apologies – this comment was made for Bertie’s post
i thought i read somewhere, may be wrong, that in Spain the player themselves activate the release clause effectively buying themselves out of the existing contract, of course the money to so (paid in full) will come Arsenal but the notion Arsenal can trigger the clause is not strictly correct
while a technicality, which as i say may be wrong if someone knows how to check, an important one in this context, i.e. Arsenal more or less powerless unless Williams has already agreed to come
deadline day also irrelevant then, except that not much time left