Barcelona have made significant progress in their pursuit of Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams, agreeing to personal terms with the 22-year-old Spanish international. However, the deal is not yet finalized due to financial constraints faced by the Catalan club.

The Deal So Far

• Personal Terms Agreed: Williams has agreed to a six-year contract with Barcelona, which will see him team up with close friend and international teammate Lamine Yamal at the Nou Camp.
• Release Clause: Williams has a €62 million (£53 million) release clause in his contract at San Mames, which Barcelona has indicated they are willing to activate.
• Verbal Agreement: Barcelona's sporting director Deco met with Williams and his representatives in Ibiza earlier this week, where a verbal agreement was reached.

Williams' Career Highlights

• Performance: Williams enjoyed the best goalscoring season of his career last term, scoring 11 times in 41 matches across all competitions.
• International Success: He played a crucial role in Spain's Euro 2024 victory, scoring the opening goal in the 2-1 final win against England in Berlin.

Financial Challenges

Barcelona remains under strict financial constraints due to the '1:1 rule', which limits the club's spending based on their income and accounts. The club's president Joan Laporta has stated that they will comply with this rule, but it is unclear how they will finance their summer signings, especially with ongoing renovations at the Nou Camp increasing club debt.

La Liga's Warning

La Liga president Javier Tebas has warned that Barcelona will not be able to register new players unless they prove compliance with financial rules. This comes after the league revoked Barcelona's registration of midfielder Dani Olmo in January, although the decision was later overruled by Spain's National Sports Council (CSD).

Related Topics

• Spanish La Liga
• Barcelona
• Athletic Bilbao
• European Football
• Football Transfers

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