Iñaki Williams

Iñaki Williams Arthuer (born 15 June 1994) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for La Liga club Athletic Bilbao, where he is captain, and the Ghana national team.

Developed at Athletic Bilbao's academy, he has made over 475 first-team appearances for the club, including a La Liga record of 251 consecutive matches. He scored the winning goal of the 2020–21 Supercopa de España, and also won the 2023–24 Copa del Rey.

Born in Spain to Ghanaian parents, Williams made one appearance for the Spain national team in 2016. In 2022, he chose to represent Ghana at international level, and was selected for the 2022 FIFA World Cup as well as the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. His younger brother Nico also plays for Athletic Bilbao, and for Spain.

Club career

Early life and youth career

Born in Bilbao, Biscay to Ghanaian parents, who had arrived in Spain by crossing the Sahara on foot and jumping the Melilla border fence, Williams spent most of his childhood living in Pamplona, specifically the Rochapea neighbourhood, and was playing youth football with local club CD Pamplona when he was spotted by Athletic Bilbao, who signed him to their youth setup at Lezama at the age of 18. He spent his first season with the Juvenil A side and made a big impression, scoring at the rate of almost a goal a game (eventually ending with 36); the team finished runners-up in the Copa del Rey Juvenil de Fútbol, and on 25 June 2013 he signed a new contract with the Basque club, running until 2017.