£400,000-a-Week Star Keen to Join Arsenal After Speaking to Arteta

Arsenal have reportedly moved ahead of Chelsea in the race for Nico Williams thanks to Mikel Arteta’s role in their pursuit of the Athletic Bilbao winger.

Arteta “loves” Williams and reportedly wanted to bring the 22-year-old to the Emirates in January but knew a deal was unlikely due to the finances involved. The Spanish attacker has a €58million (£48.75million) release clause in his contract and could be on the move this summer.

Williams has been on the Gunners’ radar for a while, and his stock went up when he flourished for Spain at last summer’s European Championships. He has two years left on his contract at San Mames and is one of several attackers Arteta and new sporting director Andrea Berta are targeting.

Arteta In Direct Talks With Williams

He took the same approach signing Declan Rice

CaughtOffside reports that Arsenal and Chelsea are “showing the strongest interest” in Williams, but Barcelona and Real Madrid are also keeping tabs. He was expected to join Hansi Flick’s Blaugrana last summer, but stayed with his boyhood club and continued to impress as their star man.

The Gunners have taken a significant step towards winning the race for the 24-cap Spain international. Arteta has “held direct talks” with the player regarding a move to the Emirates and to propose the club’s project.

Arteta took a similar approach when signing Declan Rice in the summer of 2023. He acknowledged speaking to the English midfielder who “just wanted to play for Arsenal” ahead of a club-record £100m move.

Williams could need more convincing, given that two Spanish giants are also keen. But a promise of a starring role and meeting his £400,000 per week wage demands could tip the scales in the North Londoners’ favour, with game time perhaps not so guaranteed at Barca or Madrid.

The Gunners do have alternatives should they not persuade the Spaniard to join them. They could turn to Rodrygo, and reports claim they are preparing a bid for the Brazilian, who seems unsettled at the Santiago Bernabeu.

All statistics courtesy of SofaScore – correct as of 23.05.2025

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