Inaki Williams is a professional football player who plays for Athletic Club at the club level and Ghana at the international level. He plays as a forward and can operate in all three positions on the front line.
Williams has been with Athletic Club since 2013, having joined their academy, Lezama. He, like many other Basque players, hasn’t left the club since and has become a key figure in the squad. He’s won the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de Espana with them.
At the international level, Williams started with Spain and also made his senior debut for them. However, he then chose to represent Ghana in 2022 as he comes from a Ghanaian heritage. His younger brother Nico Williams though, who is also a footballer, currently represents Spain.
Also Read: Nico Williams: Life, Clubs, Career and Stats
Inaki Williams Early Life
Williams was born in Biscay, Bilbao in Spain after his parents had settled there after crossing the Sahara Desert on foot to arrive from Ghana. He started his footballing journey with a local from Pamplona – CD Pamplona.
His performances impressed Athletic Club, who signed him for their academy when he was 18 years old. He was brilliant for the youth teams, scoring at a rate of one goal per game. He, however, suffered a knee injury and had to undergo surgery in the 2013-14 season, when he played for Basconia.
Williams was brilliant for Basconia, which saw Athletic Bilbao call him for their B team in Spanish football’s second tier. He scored 21 goals in 32 games for Bilbao Athletic before making his senior debut in December 2014.
Athletic Bilbao
Inaki Williams made his senior debut for Athletic Bilbao in a 1-0 win over Cordoba on December 6, 2014. He scored his first goal for the club in a 2-2 draw against Torino in the UEFA Europa League Round of 32 in February 2015.
Williams’ performances for Athletic saw him being linked with the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City. However, he signed a new contract with Bilbao in 2016, which was valid until 2021. He continued his brilliance for the club, scoring some crucial goals in European competitions.
In 2018, Williams signed a new contract extension, valid until 2025. In the 2018-19 season, he won Marca’s Golden Goal of the Season award for his goal against Sevilla in January 2019.
In 2019, he signed a nine-year contract with Athletic Club with a release clause worth €135 million. In 2021, he scored a goal in a 3-2 win over Barcelona in the final of the Supercopa de Espana.
Williams also holds the record for most consecutive La Liga appearances with 251 spanning over six seasons! In 2024, he scored in a 4-2 win over Barcelona in the Copa del Rey quarter-final as Athletic Club went on to win the trophy.
International Career
Inaki Williams started with Spain’s U21 in 2015 and made his senior debut in 2016 in a UEFA Euro 2016 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Ghana national team were also monitoring Williams in 2016 as he was eligible to play for them as his parents are Ghanaian. He seemed to have dismissed the idea of moving away from the Spanish national team in 2021.
However, he didn’t make a single appearance for Spain in 2021 and then made himself available for Ghana in 2022. He made his debut in a friendly against Brazil and was also called up for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2023 AFCON.
Inaki Williams’ family
The forward was born on June 15, 1994, in Bilbao, Spain to Felix Williams and Maria Arthuer. His parents are from Ghana and traveled to Spain by crossing the Sahara Desert on foot. He was named Inaki in honor of a volunteer in Bilbao who helped his parents.
He is married to Patricia Morales since June 1, 2024. They don’t have any kids as of now.
Inaki Williams Brother
He has a brother named Nico Williams, who is around eight years younger than him. Nico is also a professional footballer and plays for Athletic Bilbao and Spain and is considered one of the most promising footballers of his generation.
Also Read: Athletic Club: Players, History, Records and Future Goals
Inaki Williams Age – 30
Inaki Williams Height – 1.86m
Inaki Williams Stats
| Team | Year | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| Bilbao Athletic | 2013-15 | 32 | 21 | 6 |
| Athletic Bilbao | 2014- | 425 | 100 | 57 |
| Spain | 2016 | 1 | – | – |
| Ghana | 2022- | 17 | 1 | – |
Inaki Williams Net Worth
Inaki Williams’ net worth is estimated at over €10 million at the time of writing. He earns €219,231 per week at Athletic Club, not including bonuses. He also has a contract with Nike.
FAQs
Q. Why does Inaki Williams not play for Spain?
A. He wasn’t selected for Spain’s squad in 2021. He was eligible to play for Ghana as his parents are from Ghana and then chose to leave the Spanish squad in favor of the Black Stars.
Q. How much does Inaki Williams earn?
A. He earns €219,231 per week at Athletic Club, not including bonuses, with a contract running until 2028.
Q. How many goals has Inaki Williams scored for Bilbao?
A. He’s scored 100 goals in 425 games so far.
Also Read: The 10 Most Expensive Transfers In The History Of La Liga