Aston Villa to sign Euro 2024 star Nico Williams

Top-flight rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa are vying for the signature of Nico Williams,

who has been playing well for Spain at Euro 2024.

Longtime fans of the player, Villa attempted to sign the Athletic Bilbao winger in January 2023 but

were turned down even though they fulfilled his release clause.

But now, circumstances have changed. The 21-year-old’s value has increased significantly,

and he is being pursued by several elite European teams, including Barcelona.

With a £49 million release clause in his contract, this might be the right time to make a move,

and Emery’s team has already laid a lot of groundwork.

Plenty and lots of pace.

Analyst Ben Mattinson has observed that Williams is primarily a left-sided

winger who “terrorized defences” with his aggression and acute athleticism.

Williams has earned his spot following a season of excellent skills in Basque Country.

He has gained continental attention for his efforts for Spain at the European Championships;

the table above highlights just how remarkable his level has been over these past few weeks.

In fact, Williams had a very prolific cup campaign,

with three goals and five assists in six games as Bilbao overcame Mallorca

on penalties in the Copa del Rey final, ending a forty-year trophy drought.

But it only scratches the surface of Williams’ season-long total; in reality,

he’s picked up eight goals in all competitions and, perhaps more significantly,

an astounding 19 assists, positioning him as one of Europe’s top wide players.

Anthony Gordon of Newcastle United is one of the 21-year-old’s most comparable players,

according to FBref, based on his performances.

Although the England international has some promising traits,

Williams may end up being more desirable than the player in the future.

Many of Athletic Bilbao’s best players now command higher pay due to the club’s unusual transfer policy,

which forbids acquisitions from outside of the Basque Country.

Williams, who is perhaps the best in the business, earns £169k a week,

placing him second only to his brother Inaki on the pay scale.

Given that the Spaniard already makes more money than Villa’s greatest earners,

an exception to the system would need to be made.

However, Villa has been persistent in their long-term pursuit of the quick-witted star and has been systematic in their efforts to sign him.

Williams is in the top 20% for shot-creating actions, the top 7% for progressive carries,

the top 6% for successful take-ons per 90, and the top 2% among attacking midfielders

and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for assists, according to FBref.

It makes sense that Adam Keys, an Arsenal podcaster,

has dubbed him a “pace demon” because he dribbles a lot and integrates the various elements

of the wide game to imply that he has the makings of a global phenomenon.

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