Arsenal revive £78m Nico Williams pursuit as young goalkeeper rejects contract

Arsenal have revived their pursuit of Athletic Club winger Nico Williams ahead of the summer transfer window, with the 23-year-old Spain international carrying a €90million (£78m) release clause after signing a 10-year deal with the La Liga club last year. Separately, young goalkeeper Alexei Rojas is set to depart the Emirates Stadium after rejecting a contract offer from the Premier League champions.

Nico Williams back on Arsenal’s radar

According to TEAMtalk, Arsenal view Williams as one of their primary attacking targets this summer. The Gunners have tracked the winger since 2024, and that interest has persisted despite a relatively underwhelming domestic season for the Bilbao forward.

Sources close to Williams have reportedly told Arsenal and other interested clubs that he would be open to a move to the Premier League, with the player said to be reassessing his options ahead of a summer that will include Spain’s World Cup campaign.

Arsenal’s renewed focus on Williams comes after setbacks elsewhere in the market. Juventus rejected the club’s approach for Kenan Yildiz, while Barcelona moved to sign Anthony Gordon — another target the Gunners had identified. Those developments appear to have concentrated attention on Williams as a solution to their left-wing vacancy.

Manager Mikel Arteta signalled the need for significant reinforcements following Arsenal’s Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain last month. Co-chairman Josh Kroenke has indicated the club are prepared to spend around £250million this summer as they look to defend their Premier League title.

Rojas to leave after contract rejection

Arsenal goalkeeper Alexei Rojas will leave the club when his contract expires on June 30, having turned down a new deal. The 20-year-old Colombian was named among 15 players — drawn from the youth team, first team, and women’s team — confirmed as departing at the end of the season.

The Premier League’s official retained list confirmed that Rojas had been offered fresh terms, a detail that had also been reported in Colombia approximately a week before the list’s release. His decision to decline the offer and seek opportunities elsewhere is not considered a major blow, given he made only a handful of appearances for Arsenal’s under-21 side during his time at the club.