Nico Williams' decision to snub a move to Barcelona has opened the door for Premier League giants Chelsea to swoop in.
Athletic Bilbao's star winger, Williams, has made a final decision to stay with his boyhood club, despite strong interest from Barcelona and other top European clubs.
According to The Athletic, Williams has chosen to remain with Bilbao, prioritizing his desire to play European football with his hometown team.
Anything can happen — Enzo Maresca open to selling Chelsea star
Nico Williams rejects Barcelona, opens door to Chelsea, others
Barcelona made Williams their top target after his impressive performance at Euro 2024, but their financial struggles likely contributed to his decision to stay put.
PSG had also shown interest in the winger, but their hopes have been dashed.
Arsenal and Chelsea, who had previously been linked to Williams, may see this as a positive development for future transfer windows.
Although they were willing to pay his €58 million release clause, additional costs made him an unrealistic target this summer.
However, with Williams set to sign a new contract with Bilbao, his price is unlikely to decrease anytime soon.
Chelsea land first pre-season win
Meanwhile, Chelsea earned their first pre-season win, smashing Club America 3-0.
Christopher Nkunku was on the scoresheet and fans will be expecting big things from him this season.
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