Nicholas Williams Arthuer, born 12 July 2002, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a winger for Athletic Bilbao and the Spain national team. He is recognised for his speed and dribbling skills.
โฝ Club Career Beginnings
Williams joined Athletic Bilbaoโs youth academy in 2013 from hometown side CA Osasuna. He was promoted to the reserve team in 2020 and to the first team a year later.
He made his La Liga debut on 28 April 2021 as a second-half substitute in a 2-2 draw against Real Valladolid. His brother Iรฑaki also came off the bench ten minutes later, marking the first time two siblings played together for the club since 1986.
๐ First Team Breakthrough
Williams scored his first two goals for Athletic on 6 January 2022 in a Copa del Rey win over Atlรฉtico Mancha Real. He scored the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Atlรฉtico Madrid in the Supercopa de Espaรฑa semi-final seven days later.
On 20 January 2022, he was given a first team contract after meeting a number of clauses. He scored his first La Liga goal on 11 September 2022 in a 4-1 away win against Elche CF.
๐ Contract and Trophies
Williams signed a new contract running to 2027 on 1 December 2023. He provided the assist for Sancet in the 2024 Copa del Rey final, which Athletic won on penalties to claim their first major trophy in 40 years.
He was nominated for the 2024 Ballon dโOr, finishing 15th. On 4 July, he renewed his contract with Athletic Bilbao in a 10-year deal set to run until 2035 with a reported release clause of around โฌ90 million.
๐ช๐ธ International Career
Williams debuted for Spainโs senior side in 2022 and was a member of their 2022 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2024, and 2026 FIFA World Cup squads. He scored and was named man of the match in the UEFA Euro 2024 final as Spain won the tournament.
At the 2026 World Cup, he made six appearances as a substitute, including in the final where he provided the assist for the only goal as Spain won their second world title. He also won the 2024 UEFA European Championship and was runner-up in the 2025 UEFA Nations League.
๐จโ๐ฉโ๐งโ๐ฆ Personal Background
Williams was born in Pamplona, Navarre, to Ghanaian immigrant parents who travelled across the Sahara Desert to reach Melilla. His elder brother Iรฑaki Williams is also a footballer and a forward.
| Competition | Result | Year | Host |
|---|---|---|---|
| FIFA World Cup | Winner | 2026 | North America |
| UEFA European Championship | Winner | 2024 | Germany |
| UEFA Nations League | Runner-up | 2025 | Germany |