Athletic Club forward Inaki Williams has called time on his international career with Ghana, ending a four-year spell with the Black Stars. The 32-year-old confirmed his decision on Friday, September 11, 2026, saying he felt it was the right moment to close this chapter. “I feel the time has come to bring my journey with the Ghana national team to an end. I leave happy, proud and with the peace of mind of knowing that I gave everything every time I wore this shirt.”
Williams also reflected on what representing Ghana meant to him beyond football, particularly the chance to reconnect with his heritage. “Ghana has given me much more than football. It has allowed me to come back home, feel even closer to my roots and experience the enormous pride of representing my country and wearing this flag on my chest.” After making his debut in 2022, Williams thanked everyone involved with the national team and said Ghana would always remain a part of him. He will now turn his full attention to Athletic Club as he looks to manage the latter stages of his career while supporting his younger brother Nico Williams, who represents Spain.
Who Is Inaki Williams? Exploring His Childhood, Roots and Early Football Career
Born on June 15, 1994, in Bilbao, Spain, Inaki Williams has built a remarkable career with Athletic Bilbao and the Ghana national team. His story, however, began long before his rise in football. His parents, Félix Williams and María Arthuer, left Ghana in 1993 in search of a safer future and endured a dangerous journey across the Sahara. María was seven months pregnant with Inaki at the time, while Félix suffered serious injuries to his feet during the journey. After reaching Melilla, the couple eventually made their way to Bilbao with the help of a lawyer and a Catholic priest, Inaki Mardones, whose support inspired them to name their first son after him.
Williams grew up in Pamplona in a family that had to make significant sacrifices to get by. His father later moved to London and spent years working security and turnstile jobs outside Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge, leaving Iñaki to take on greater responsibility at home and look after his younger brother, Nico. Williams also worked various small jobs to help his family, including refereeing local youth football matches for around €10 per game. Football soon became his biggest opportunity, with his talent emerging through local clubs such as Club Natación and CD Pamplona before Athletic Bilbao brought him into the Lezama academy in 2012.
After developing through Athletic’s youth system, Williams made his senior debut in December 2014 and went on to establish himself as one of the club’s most important players. He became the first Black player to score a senior goal for Athletic and later set a La Liga record with 251 consecutive appearances. Although he played once for Spain in a friendly in 2016, Williams switched his international allegiance to Ghana in 2022, honouring his family roots and his grandfather’s wishes. He represented the Black Stars at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, while his younger brother Nico chose Spain, with both brothers continuing to play together for Athletic Bilbao.
Inaki Williams’ Biggest Achievements and Records
Iñaki Williams has become one of Athletic Bilbao’s most important modern-era players, combining remarkable consistency with a long-standing commitment to the Basque club. He helped Athletic end a 40-year wait for the Copa del Rey in the 2023-24 season and has also won the Supercopa de España twice, in 2015 and 2021. His most memorable Super Cup moment came in the 2020-21 final, when he scored the decisive extra-time goal in Athletic’s 3-2 win over Barcelona. Williams has also surpassed 500 appearances for the club, further cementing his status at San Mamés, while becoming the first Black player to score a senior goal in Athletic’s history.
His individual record is equally impressive. Williams holds the La Liga record for 251 consecutive appearances, a streak that lasted from April 2016 to January 2023, highlighting his exceptional durability. His explosive pace, with top speeds above 35 km/h, has also made him one of the league’s quickest players. Internationally, he represented Spain at youth level and helped the U-21 side reach the 2017 European Championship final before switching allegiance to Ghana in 2022. He featured for the Black Stars at the 2022 World Cup and was later selected for Ghana’s 2026 World Cup squad, adding another significant chapter to his career.
Inaki Williams Net Worth: Salary, Earnings and Endorsement Deals
Iñaki Williams is estimated to have a net worth of around $15 million to $20 million, with most of his wealth coming from his long-term career at Athletic Bilbao, performance bonuses and commercial partnerships. In 2019, Williams signed a rare nine-year contract extension with the club, keeping him at Athletic until June 2028. His reported gross fixed salary is around €11.4 million per year, or approximately €219,231 per week, while performance-related bonuses could take his annual earnings to about €14.25 million. The deal also reportedly includes a €135 million release clause.
Williams has also built his income away from the pitch through endorsement deals, including a prominent partnership with Nike. His profile with both Athletic Bilbao and Ghana has helped him attract commercial opportunities in Spain and West Africa. He has invested some of his earnings in property as well, with reports linking him to a luxury penthouse in Bilbao. Despite his substantial wealth, Williams is generally known for maintaining a relatively low-key lifestyle compared with many other elite footballers.
Who Is Nico Williams? Meet Iñaki Williams’ Younger Brother and Spain Star
Nico Williams has grown from being known as Iñaki Williams’ younger brother into one of Spain’s most exciting attacking players. The Athletic Bilbao winger is renowned for his speed, dribbling and ability to deliver in big moments. Born into a Ghanaian family that endured a difficult journey to Spain, Nico and Iñaki were raised in the Basque Country and developed through Athletic Bilbao’s youth system. The brothers remain teammates at club level, but their international careers took different paths, with Iñaki representing Ghana and Nico choosing Spain.
Nico has since established himself on the international stage, playing a key role in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph and scoring in the final against England. He has also continued to attract attention from some of Europe’s biggest clubs, including Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, but chose to remain with Athletic Bilbao by signing a long-term contract extension. His decision reflects the strong connection he shares with the club, where he has followed in his brother’s footsteps while building a reputation of his own.
