Nico Williams pens new Athletic deal in transfer twist
"When you have to make decisions, for me what matters most is the heart. I am where I want to be, with my people, this is my home," Williams was quoted as saying in the statement.
Playing alongside his older brother Inaki Williams, Nico emerged through the Basque side's youth ranks to become a star performer, netting 31 goals over his five seasons with the first team.
His dynamic wing play helped the club win the 2024 Copa del Rey -- ending a 40-year drought in the competition -- and qualify for the 2025/26 Champions League.
Williams had attracted attention from European giants, with press reports linking him to Barcelona and Arsenal.
Williams has also become a regular for Spain and was named player of the match as La Roja defeated England to win the Euro 2024 final.
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France 24
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Erratic Alcaraz battles into Wimbledon fourth round
Alcaraz made 28 unforced errors in an inconsistent display on Centre Court but conjured enough moments of magic to eventually subdue the world number 125 and book his place in the last 16. The world number two had been pushed to the brink in a five-set win over 38-year-old Italian Fabio Fognini in the first round and looked below his best again in a second-round victory over British amateur Oliver Tarvet. After grinding out his latest underwhelming win, the Spaniard has plenty of room for improvement. "I knew it was going to be really difficult. I had to be really focused. His game suits the grass with the big serves," Alcaraz said. "It's stressful. To be honest, I was suffering in every service game today, 0-30, break points down. "I'm really pleased that I was fighting, running for every ball and making great shots." In contrast to Alcaraz's laboured efforts, world number one Jannik Sinner -- his main rival at the All England Club -- has dropped just 12 games in his first two matches. It is hardly time for Alcaraz to panic, however. He has won his past 21 matches since losing to Holger Rune in the Barcelona final in April, a streak that has brought him titles at the Rome Masters, the French Open and Queen's Club. The 22-year-old, who fought back from two sets down to beat Sinner on clay in an epic final at Roland Garros last month, has won 32 of his 35 Tour-level matches on grass. The five-time Grand Slam winner's last defeat at Wimbledon came against Sinner in the fourth round in 2022. "He pushed me and it was just about surviving. I'm surprising I'm standing here after four sets," Alcaraz said of the hard-hitting Struff. Having vanquished Novak Djokovic in the past two Wimbledon finals, Alcaraz is looking to join an elite group of Wimbledon icons. He hopes to become the fifth man in the Open Era to win at least three consecutive Wimbledon titles after Bjorn Borg, Roger Federer, Pete Sampras and seven-time champion Djokovic. Having fretted about his misfiring serve in the first two matches of his title defence, it was a worrying moment for Alcaraz when he started the match with a double-fault. The Spaniard managed to win that game and quickly broke Struff's serve twice to wrap up the opening set in just 27 minutes. Alcaraz looked in complete control when he broke again early in the second set. Yet his serve woes suddenly returned as he was broken in the next game and again in the eighth, allowing the 35-year-old to level the match. Alcaraz, then still a precocious teenager, had to come from two sets to one down to beat Struff in the Wimbledon first round in 2022. He was not in quite such a perilous position this time, but the Spaniard was still relieved to take the third set after landing the crucial break in the second game. Alcaraz was pushed hard in the fourth set before at last delivering the knockout blow.
France 24
an hour ago
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Red Bull boss says Verstappen wants to stay despite Mercedes links
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France 24
an hour ago
- France 24
Sweden beat rivals Norway at Women's Euro 2025
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