Chelsea are considering a move worth up to €80m for Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams, with the Premier League club reportedly looking to make a major push for the Spain international during the January transfer window.
According to Fichajes, Chelsea have placed the 24-year-old among their transfer targets for the 2026-27 season and are prepared to consider a deal that could reach €80m.
Williams remains under contract with Athletic Bilbao until 2035, after the Basque club secured a long-term extension with the player in July 2025.
Chelsea’s interest in the winger is not new. The London club had previously monitored Williams before Athletic Bilbao convinced him to extend his stay, a decision that also resulted in a significant increase in the value of his release clause.
The new agreement strengthened Athletic Bilbao’s position in any potential negotiations over the player, who remains one of the club’s key assets.
Reports suggest Williams’ current release clause is worth €90m, although Athletic Bilbao have not officially confirmed the exact amount.
Chelsea may also face competition for his signature. Arsenal and Manchester United have reportedly shown interest in the winger, meaning any attempt to take Williams away from Bilbao could involve competition from other Premier League clubs.
The player’s future has already attracted considerable attention in recent years.
Williams was close to joining Barcelona in 2025 before deciding to remain at Athletic Bilbao and signing his long-term contract. His decision at the time was seen as a commitment to staying with the Basque club until the agreement expires in 2035.
However, the club’s recent difficulties and its failure to secure titles could potentially influence the player’s decision over whether to remain for the entire duration of his contract.
Athletic Bilbao are understood to be prepared to consider selling Williams if the right financial proposal arrives.
The Spanish club would, however, want substantial compensation for allowing one of its key players to leave. Its demands could go beyond the reported value of the release clause, with Athletic Bilbao preferring an offer of at least €100m.
That figure would put the potential transfer significantly above the €80m amount reportedly being considered by Chelsea.
The difference between Chelsea’s reported plans and Athletic Bilbao’s valuation could therefore become an important factor if negotiations develop during the winter window.
For now, Williams remains contracted to Athletic Bilbao until 2035, while Chelsea’s reported interest adds another chapter to the uncertainty surrounding the winger’s long-term future.
With Arsenal and Manchester United also linked with the player, the coming transfer window could bring further attention to Williams if Chelsea decide to turn their reported interest into a formal offer.
