Nico Williams Joins Athletic Club Squad for Liverpool Pre-Season Trip

Athletic Club have arrived in Liverpool ahead of the final stage of their pre-season preparations in the coming days.

Ernesto Valverde’s side are set to face the current Premier League champions twice on 4 August, in a double-header aimed at sharpening both squads ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

The Basque giants are preparing for a pivotal season following their return to the UEFA Champions League—and after successfully fending off another approach from Barcelona for their star winger, Nico Williams.

The Catalan club made a second successive attempt to sign Williams this summer, and despite their growing confidence over securing a deal, the move ultimately collapsed in dramatic fashion. Williams instead chose to remain in Bilbao and went on to sign a new 10-year contract with the club.

Retaining Williams is regarded as a major coup for Valverde, who had previously downplayed suggestions that the transfer speculation was affecting his squad.

“The summer transfer market teaches us that many things arise, but you never know what’s going to happen,” Valverde told Marca.
“I didn’t stop to think whether Nico would be here or not. It was like last year—without any drama.
In the end, Nico is staying and we’re delighted with his decision.
Now we have to put all that noise aside and get back to work.”

Valverde has named a 30-man squad for the trip to Merseyside, from where the team will also head to North London to face Arsenal in the Emirates Cup on 9 August.

So far this pre-season, Athletic Club have registered just one victory—an opening win over Ponferradina—followed by three defeats to Alavés, PSV Eindhoven, and Racing Santander.

Valverde’s side will kick off their La Liga campaign on 17 August, hosting rivals Sevilla at the Estadio San Mamés.