Inaki Williams retires from Ghana national team after announcing his decision on Friday afternoon, 11 September 2026. The Athletic Bilbao forward confirmed he is ending his international career with the African nation, bringing to a close six years of commitment and experience since his debut in 2022.
Williams explained that he feels the time has come to conclude his journey with the Black Stars, stating he leaves happy, proud and with the peace of mind of knowing he gave everything every time he wore the shirt. He also emphasized that Ghana has given him far more than football, allowing him to reconnect with his roots and feel the immense pride of representing his country.
Born in Bilbao to Ghanaian parents, Williams debuted for Ghana in a friendly against Brazil in September 2022, having previously represented Spain at youth level, including a call-up to the under-21 squad in March 2015. Although he had initially hoped to play for Spain, he switched allegiance ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
At that tournament, Williams started all three of Ghana’s matches, but the team was eliminated in the group stage after a 2-0 loss to Uruguay. Four years later, in the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, Ghana again exited at the group stage following a 1-0 defeat to Colombia, marking his final international appearance.
At club level, Williams remains a key figure for Athletic Bilbao, where he has played since his first-team debut in 2014. Discovered at age 18, he progressed through the youth ranks to become one of La Liga’s most consistent forwards. His first goal for the first team came in February 2015, and he has since been instrumental in multiple seasons, including a 20-meter strike in the Spanish Super Cup final against Barcelona.
Williams currently holds a contract with Athletic Bilbao running until 2028, originally signed in 2019 for nine years, with a release clause set at 135 million euros. However, he has recently been among the sidelined players, appearing on the injury list alongside Gorka Guruzeta and Peio Canales.
In the most recent league match, Athletic Club drew 1-1 with Elche on 12 September 2026, with Williams scoring the equaliser in the 79th minute following an assist from Alex Berenguer, after Facundo Buonanotte had put Elche ahead from the penalty spot in the 50th minute.
This result is part of an inconsistent recent run of 2 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses in the last five games, including a 3-0 victory over Atlético Madrid on 5 September, where Williams assisted Raúl Navarro’s second goal, and losses to Barcelona and Sevilla.
While his immediate future with the first team depends on his physical recovery, his retirement from international duty will allow him to focus entirely on his performances for Athletic Bilbao, where he continues to be one of the most identifiable players in the full squad. His last international appearance was the defeat to Colombia that eliminated Ghana from the 2026 World Cup.
