Nico Williams

Nicholas Williams Arthuer (born 12 July 2002), known as Williams Jr., is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a winger for Athletic Bilbao.

Not to be confused with Neco Williams.
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Williams and the second or maternal family name is Arthuer.
Nico Williams
Personal information
Full name Nicholas Williams Arthuer
Date of birth (2002-07-12) 12 July 2002
Place of birth Pamplona, Spain
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Winger
Club information
Current team
 Athletic Bilbao
Number 30
Youth career
2012–2013 Osasuna
2013–2019 Athletic Bilbao
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2020 Basconia 4 (0)
2020– Bilbao Athletic 26 (9)
2021– Athletic Bilbao 10 (0)
National team‡
2020 Spain U18 4 (2)
2021– Spain U21 4 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 6 October 2021
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 12 November 2021

Club career

Williams joined the youth academy of Athletic Bilbao in 2013.[1] He began his senior career with the club's farm team, Basconia, during the 2019–20 season.[2] He was promoted to Athletic Bilbao B (the reserve team) on 11 May 2020.[3] Williams made his professional debut with the Athletic senior side as a second-half substitute in a 2–2 La Liga draw against Real Valladolid on 28 April 2021.[4] His brother Iñaki also came off the bench ten minutes later; it was the first time two siblings had been on the pitch at the same time for the club since Julio and Patxi Salinas in 1986.[5]

International career

Williams first represented Spain with the U18 squad in 2020, scoring two goals in four games.[6] He was called up to Spain under-19s in February 2021,[7] and made his debut for the under-21s in September of the same year.[8]

Personal life

Williams was born in Pamplona, Spain to Ghanaian parents who claimed asylum by being refugees of the Liberian Civil War.[9][10] Nico's older brother, Iñaki Williams, is also a footballer and a forward; he too was brought up at Athletic Bilbao.[11][12]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 30 July 2021[13]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Basconia 2019–20 Tercera Division 40——40
Athletic Bilbao B 2020–21 Segunda Division B 269——269
Athletic Bilbao 2020–21 La Liga 20000020
Career total 3290000329

References
  1. Rabuñal, Iago Castro (8 May 2020). "Nico Williams, la nueva gran promesa del Athletic" [Nico Williams, the new great promise of Athletic] (in Spanish).
  2. "Nico Williams sube al filial e Iñaki le espera pronto a su lado" [Nico Williams goes up to the subsidiary and Iñaki will be waiting for him soon by his side]. AS.com (in Spanish). 11 May 2020.
  3. "Nico Williams y Nico Serrano, al Bilbao Athletic" [Nico Williams and Nico Serrano, to Bilbao Athletic]. Athletic Club website (in Spanish). 11 May 2020.
  4. "Athletic Club vs. Real Valladolid". Soccerway. 28 April 2021.
  5. "Draw against Real Valladolid at San Mamés". Athletic Club website. 28 April 2021.
  6. "La Selección Sub 18 llama a Nico Williams, hermano de Iñaki" [The Under 18 National Team calls Nico Williams, Iñaki's brother]. www.besoccer.com (in Spanish). 19 January 2020.
  7. "Nico Serrano y Nico Williams, convocados por la selección española sub-19" [Nico Serrano and Nico Williams, called up by the Spanish U19 team]. Athletic Club website (in Spanish). 16 February 2021.
  8. Vencedor and Nico Williams make their Spain Under-21 debuts Athletic Club official website, 3 September 2021
  9. "Iñaki Williams explains how he got his name and why Bilbao means so much to him". Diario AS. 4 March 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  10. "Nico Williams: Spain U-17 coach tips Bilbao youngster for greatness". Footy Ghana. 1 June 2020.
  11. Río, Endika (10 February 2019). "El hermano de Iñaki Williams debuta con gol en el juvenil del Athletic" [Iñaki Williams's brother debuts with goal for Athletic youths]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  12. Abizanda, Jorge (31 January 2021). "El imparable ascenso de Nico Williams en el Athletic" [The unstoppable rise of Nico Williams at Athletic]. ABC (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  13. "NICO WILLIAMS". Soccerway. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
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