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Arsenal preparing audacious formal offer to sign Nico Williams

By on July 5, 2026

Nico-Williams-Spain

Arsenal are preparing to submit an audacious offer to sign Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams this summer, according to Fichajes.

Williams has been one of the outstanding wingers for club and country over the past two campaigns. Having joined Bilbao from Osasuna as an 11-year-old in 2013, he went through the ranks at U18, U19, and the reserve Segunda División side.

His first-team debut came on 28 April 2021 in a 2-2 draw against Real Valladolid, where he came on as a substitute for Jon Morcillo. His brother Inaki was also on the pitch at the same time, marking the first time two siblings from the same club had played together since Julio and Patxi Salinas in 1986.

Since then, he has made 199 appearances for the Basque outfit, providing 74 goal involvements, including 14 in the recently concluded season.

The 23-year-old has also been a regular at the international level for Spain, playing key roles in their 2024 European Championship win and their ongoing FIFA World Cup surge before unfortunately suffering an injury against Uruguay.

Now, according to Fichajes, Arsenal are preparing to submit an audacious £77m formal offer to sign Williams from Bilbao this summer.

The Gunners’ boss Mikel Arteta has made adding a winger who can dribble an ‘absolute priority’ this summer, with the Spaniard now being identified as a viable option to form a formidable attack alongside Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz, according to the report.

Trossard replacement?

Arsenal view Williams as a ‘perfect fit’ who can add pace and aggression, bringing versatility, dynamism and unpredictability to their attack, with a formal offer now being prepared, Fichajes adds.

A move for the Spanish international makes sense, as he could offer Arsenal an equal attacking threat to the one Saka offers on the right.

In addition, he could also be a direct replacement for Leandro Trossard, who is reportedly closing in on a move to 16-time Turkish champions Beşiktaş.

The Belgian has been a mainstay in Arsenal’s attack since joining from Brighton & Hove Albion in January 2023. He has made 174 appearances and provided 70 goal contributions for the Gunners. He most notably ended a long goal drought in the second half of last season to score in the club’s 1-0 win over West Ham United to draw the Gunners closer to winning the Premier League title.

With his departure expected to be formalised, Williams would be a solid replacement as Arteta looks to extend his side’s dominance into next season.