Nico Williams is one of the most exciting players in Spanish football. His full name is Nicholas Williams Arthuer. He was born on 12 July 2002 in Pamplona, Spain, and has Ghanaian roots through both parents. He plays for Athletic Club in Bilbao and for the Spanish national team.
At a Glance
| No. | Topic | Detail |
| 1 | Full name | Nicholas Williams Arthuer |
| 2 | Known as | Nico Williams |
| 3 | Date of birth | 12 July 2002 |
| 4 | Age | 24 (as of October 2026) |
| 5 | Place of birth | Pamplona, Spain |
| 6 | Nationality | Spanish |
| 7 | Heritage | Ghanaian descent from both parents |
| 8 | Height | 181 cm (5 ft 11 in) |
| 9 | Weight | Roughly 67 to 75 kg (listings vary) |
| 10 | Position | Left winger |
| 11 | Preferred foot | Right |
| 12 | Current club | Athletic Club (Bilbao) |
| 13 | Shirt number | 10 |
| 14 | Parents | Felix Williams and María Arthuer |
| 15 | Siblings | Iñaki Williams (older brother) and a younger sister, Beatriz |
| 16 | Youth academy | CD Pamplona, Osasuna, then Athletic’s Lezama academy |
| 17 | Relationship status | Reportedly single (split from Ainhi García in July 2026) |
| 18 | Contract | Until June 2035 |
| 19 | Major honours | Euro 2024, 2026 World Cup, 2023–24 Copa del Rey |
| 20 | Net worth | Estimated at about $20 million (varies by source) |
Early Life of His Family and Background Splash
Nico’s family story is one of the most remarkable in modern football. His parents, father: Felix Williams and mother: María Arthuer, left Ghana in the 1990s and crossed the Sahara on foot to reach Melilla, the Spanish enclave on the North African coast. María was already pregnant with Nico’s older brother Iñaki when she left Ghana with Felix.
Once in Spain, they received support from charitable groups and slowly built a new life. Their eldest son was named Iñaki after a priest who helped them. Iñaki was born in Bilbao in 1994, and Nico arrived eight years later in Pamplona.
Money was tight, and the family spent long periods apart. Felix went to London on his own and worked as a maintenance and security electrician at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge. That left María holding things together in Spain, and it left Iñaki, eight years older, with a big-brother role that was close to fatherly. Nico and his brother are the main earning members and support the family continuously. He and Iñaki only learned the full details of that journey once they were adults.
| Family Member | Name |
| Father | Felix Williams |
| Mother | María Arthuer |
| Older brother | Iñaki Williams |
| Younger sister | Beatriz (name as reported by Tribuna; the family keeps her life private) |
Educational Background and Football Schooling Journey
Nico was not going to a conventional school as others normally see it. Many football legends came from their extraordinary skills without the normal educational system. Nico is one of them. His normal school journey was not so proud to describe in detail.
He began in the youth ranks at CD Pamplona from 2010 to 2012, moved to Osasuna’s youth setup for a year, and then joined Athletic Bilbao’s youth system in 2013. He followed his brother’s path to Athletic’s famous Lezama academy, the club’s training complex where young Basque players learn the game and the club’s values. He moved up to the reserve team in 2020 and to the first team a year later.
Family Life and Family Bonding
Nico’s family life centers on his mother María, his brother Iñaki and his sister. The Williams family is still very close. Iñaki and Nico share a dressing room at Athletic but wear different national colours. Nico chose to represent Spain, while Iñaki chose Ghana, honoring their parents’ origins. They are living in a happy family, and they are not separated.
Body Traits and Physical Appearance
Nico Williams has the look of a classic modern winger, light on his feet and built for sudden bursts of speed. At 24, he stands 181 cm (5 ft 11 in), which is tall enough to hold his own in duels but still compact enough to turn quickly past defenders. His frame is lean and athletic, and most of his strength shows in his acceleration and balance. On the pitch, his dark hair is usually kept short and neat. Official body measurements such as chest and waist have never been published, so only the verified details are listed below.
| Trait | Detail |
| Age | 24 (born 12 July 2002) |
| Height | 181 cm (5 ft 11 in) |
| Weight | Listed at 67 kg on most profiles. FotMob’s data shows 78 kg. Treat it as roughly 67 to 75 kg. |
| Preferred foot | Right |
| Build | Lean and athletic, typical of a pace-based winger |
| Hair | Dark black, usually kept short |
| Eyes | Dark brown |
| Chest, waist, and other measurements | Chest 39 inches (99 cm), Waist 31 inches (79 cm) Hips / Seat 38 inches (96 cm) Biceps 14 inches (35.5 cm) |
Relationship Status: Is Nico Williams Single or has a Girlfriend?
For about two years, Nico was connected to Ainhi García, whose full name is Ainhize Legarreta García. She earned a degree in artificial intelligence, went on to study computer science engineering, and teaches at a vocational training center. They were introduced through Nico’s younger sister, who was a friend of hers. She spent the whole 2026 World Cup in the United States supporting him.
Then the relationship ended. Journalist Javi Hoyos, presenter of the Spanish TV programme D Corazón, reported that they had ended their two-year relationship “on good terms” shortly after celebrating the World Cup together. He denied rumors of third parties and said the love had simply run out. At the time, neither of them had publicly spoken about the split. She later faced harassment online, and Nico publicly defended her after the relationship had ended. They just separated from each other with less intention and lowered their love and care.
Based on the most recent credible reporting, Nico Williams is single. This comes from press reports and not from a formal announcement by either of them, so it could change.
A Fruitful Chapter of His Career Milestones
Nico Williams’ career has moved fast. He came through Athletic Club’s academy, reached the first team as a teenager, and within a few years was a regular for Spain. His breakthrough year was 2024, when he won the Copa del Rey with Athletic and then scored in the Euro 2024 final. In 2025, he chose to stay in Bilbao on a deal running to 2035, and in 2026 he added a World Cup winners’ medal. Here is how the main steps line up.
| Year | Milestone |
| 2020 | Promoted to Athletic’s reserve team on 11 May 2020 |
| 2021 | First-team debut on 28 April 2021 |
| 2022 | Scored his first two goals for the Lions on 6 January 2022, and debuted for Spain’s senior side |
| 2024 (April) | Man of the Match in the Copa del Rey final, which ended Athletic’s 40-year trophy wait |
| 2024 (July) | Scored the opening goal in Spain’s 2–1 Euro 2024 final win over England |
| 2025 | Signed a deal running through June 2035, the longest first-team contract in Athletic’s history |
| 2026 | Assisted Ferran Torres for the extra-time winner against Argentina in the World Cup final |
| October 2026 | Scored in a 4–1 win over Croatia, then withdrew from the squad with a left thigh problem |
A few details behind the table:
- Copa del Rey 2024. Athletic beat Mallorca on penalties, and Nico and Iñaki won the trophy together.
- Euro 2024. He was the second-youngest player in Euros history to score in a final, at 22 years and 2 days.
- Barcelona. He twice rejected Barcelona before signing the 2025 extension.
- 2025–26 season. It was a harder year, with groin problems in the autumn of 2025 and pundits calling his club season disappointing.
- 2026 World Cup. He arrived with a thigh and groin injury and was left out of the starting XI for the semi-final against France. He still made six substitute appearances and set up the only goal of the final as Spain won their second world title.
- Future. Goal reported in June that he wants to stay at Athletic for life. Transfer rumours tied to Arsenal and others will probably continue, and his release clause is reported at around €95 to 100 million.
Career Most Achievement Awards and Recognition
Nico’s honours so far mix team trophies with individual recognition, and most of them come from a remarkable stretch between 2024 and 2026. He has won two major tournaments with Spain and a first Copa del Rey in 40 years with Athletic. He has also been named Player of the Match in two finals and picked in Team of the Tournament selections. The full list is below.
| Award or honour | Year |
| Euro 2024 champion with Spain | 2024 |
| Player of the Match, Euro 2024 final | 2024 |
| Player of the Match, Euro 2024 group game against Italy | 2024 |
| Opta Team of the Tournament, Euro 2024 | 2024 |
| Copa del Rey winner, and Man of the Match in the final | 2023–24 |
| UEFA Europa League Team of the Season | 2024–25 |
| La Liga Goal of the Month | November 2025 |
| FIFA World Cup champion with Spain | 2026 |
Net Worth and Current Salary
Net worth figures are estimates, since neither the player nor the club publishes them. Celebrity Net Worth puts his wealth at about $20 million, which is about €18 million. Nike and Red Bull are named among his sponsors.
Salary estimates vary. One source gives a base of about €13.2 million gross a year. Capology estimates around €17.19 million gross a year, excluding bonuses. Either way, he is Athletic’s highest-paid player.
His current wealth is likely lower than his contract headline suggests, because most of the money guaranteed through 2035 has not yet been paid. Net worth should climb if he stays fit and keeps performing.
Hobbies and Most Interesting Things
Nico keeps his private life private, so I won’t invent a list of favourite foods and colours of the kind that fills content-farm sites. What is visible from his public life:
- Football and freestyle skills. Red Bull, one of his sponsors, shows him doing freestyle football tricks.
- Family time. He is close to his brother and mother, and the family follows each other’s matches.
- Holidays and friends. His summer breaks in places like Sardinia and Marbella have made headlines.
- Fashion and sponsorships. He appears in brand campaigns, and Nike is reported as a sponsor.
Interesting Facts
- His parents’ trek across the Sahara is one of the most remarkable family stories in football.
- He and Iñaki both won the 2023–24 Copa del Rey as teammates.
- He is the second-youngest player in Euro history to score in a final.
- His Athletic contract is the longest first-team deal in the club’s history.
- The brothers play for different countries, Spain and Ghana.
- His World Cup final involvement was as a substitute, and still decisive.
Quick Questions and Answers
1. How old is Nico Williams?
He is 24, born on 12 July 2002.
2. Where is Nico Williams from?
He was born in Pamplona, Spain, to Ghanaian parents.
3. Who are Nico Williams’s parents?
Felix Williams and María Arthuer.
4. Is Nico Williams related to Iñaki Williams?
Yes. Iñaki is his older brother, and they have the same parents.
5. Which club does Nico Williams play for?
Athletic Club in Bilbao, wearing number 10.
6. How tall is Nico Williams?
He is 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in).
7. Does Nico Williams have a girlfriend?
He was in a roughly two-year relationship with Ainhi García, but press reports say it ended in July 2026.
8. What is Nico Williams’s net worth?
Around $20 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Salary estimates vary by source.
9. What did Nico Williams win with Spain?
Euro 2024 and the 2026 World Cup.
10. Is Nico Williams leaving Athletic Club?
He is under contract until 2035, and transfer talk continues, but he has said he wants to stay long term.
