There was interest from many Premier League teams, but I'm very happy at Athletic. I have very good team-mates, I want to keep making history' Why Nico Williams snubbed England to sign a ten-year Athletic deal

"You have to think about what you want in your life. I decided to stay because this is a family. This club will always be there in good times and bad. I'm happy with the decision I've made. I want to keep growing as a player and hope I can make history. That's my goal here."

"The closeness we have between the first team and the younger players, Williams says. That's what unites us. In the end, I think we're a very big team. At European level, we need to maintain the standard we're at. In fact, we have to increase it, because we have the capacity for it."

Nico Williams committed to a ten-year deal with Athletic Bilbao despite interest from Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Aston Villa. Williams describes his decision as deeply personal, prioritizing the club's family-like environment and stability over financial opportunities elsewhere. He emphasizes that Athletic Bilbao provides the closeness between first-team and younger players that distinguishes it from other clubs. Williams expresses satisfaction with his teammates and commitment to growing as a player while helping the club maintain and elevate its European standard. His choice reflects a rare example of loyalty in modern football, where players typically pursue moves to wealthier clubs.

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