Williams wants to move to Barcelona but needs assurances that the club can register him
Barcelona may be unable to bring Nico Williams to the Camp Nou this summer as financial constraints and La Liga registration hurdles threaten to derail the deal.
The club remain willing to meet Williams’ €60 million release clause, but they would need to free up salary space before they can successfully register him. The Athletic Club winger has made it clear to Barcelona that he won’t sign unless the club can guarantee immediate registration for the 2025-26 season.
According to La Liga rules, Barcelona have to remain within a 1:1 spending ratio threshold, meaning that any incomings must be balanced by outgoing deals.
Barcelona officials told Mundo Deportivo that the club are confident they will soon be within financial fair play guidelines and be able to register Joan Garcia, who was signed from Espanyol this summer. Ansu Fati has been sent on loan to AS Monaco and Clement Lenglet has joined Atletico Madrid. The exits of Pablo Torre and Inaki Pena are also being negotiated.
However, registering Nico Williams would require the departure of a current squad member with a high salary.
This now leaves Barcelona in a dilemma. If the club activate the player’s release clause, they risk being unable to register him even after paying €60m – or at least part of that fee for now – to Athletic Club. On the other hand, if they wait, they could possibly lose him to a rival club, with Bayern currently circling.
Williams undoubtedly wants to move to Barcelona. But with the 2026 World Cup less than a year away, he needs playing time if he is to make the highly competitive Spain squad. If Barcelona activate his release clause but are ultimately unable to register him, it could damage his chances for playing for his country at football’s biggest showpiece next year.
