Iñaki Williams: “I’ll retire here” with a deal until 2028

Iñaki Williams, the Athletic captain, has a contract that runs to 2028 and has already made his plans clear: his retirement will be “here”. At 32 years old and with 516 official matches for the club, he told MARCA: “Here I retire. I don’t want to wear any shirt other than Athletic’s.”

A one-club man

He did not give a specific date for the goodbye, but insisted that once his deal ends there won’t be more football away from San Mamés. In his view, the club and he will sit down to manage what comes next, though it’s not the focus right now.

He has also stepped away from Ghana duty, with which he took part in two World Cups, to devote himself to Athletic, the only team he wants to belong to at the top level. In an interview with RNE he even said it would be “impossible” for him to play for another club.

Advice from the dressing room

On what comes after retirement, he added: “I’ll go to San Mamés with my son to watch new legends grow.” He also shared his take on social media: “If social media takes away your sleep, get off social media and you’ll live more calmly,” speaking in part about his brother Nico.