Why isn't Nico Williams at Barca?

The transfer of Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams to Barcelona has failed because the Spanish international wanted to include a clause in his contract allowing him to leave if the club fails to register him, revealed "Athletic". The Catalans have refused this condition.

Personal terms had already been agreed verbally, but the deal fell apart when the 22-year-old's representatives set an unacceptable requirement for Barca. Catalan giants' sporting director Deco said that the club would not agree to the condition, although such clauses are not a precedent, and the most recent example is with Dani Olmo, BTA adds.

Nico Williams' camp has requested guarantees that Barcelona will be able to register him for matches until August 20 – immediately after the first round of La Liga for the 2025/26 season. Their argument was that there were other clubs, led by Bayern Munich and Arsenal, ready to offer more favorable conditions.

Deco refused. He promised that Williams would be registered until the end of the transfer window, but he did not want to take a risk by including the clause in question.
In the end, the winger renewed his contract with Athletic Bilbao until 2035. Barcelona were shocked by this turn of events and do not intend to make any more attempts to attract Williams.