Athletic Bilbao Captain Iñaki Williams Retires from Ghana Duty
Athletic captain Iñaki Williams has ended his international career with Ghana, confirming on Friday that he will no longer be available for the Black Stars after four years in the squad.
What Williams’ decision means for Athletic and Ghana
| International record | Figure |
|---|---|
| Ghana appearances | 28 |
| Ghana goals | 2 |
| Years with Ghana | 4 |
| Final international match | Ghana 0-1 Colombia, July |
The 32-year-old’s final Ghana appearance came in the 1-0 World Cup defeat to Colombia in July, a result which ended the Black Stars’ campaign in the round of 32. Ghana had nevertheless reached the tournament’s knockout phase for the first time since 2010.
Williams was born in Bilbao to Ghanaian parents and began his international career with Spain, for whom he played once in a friendly against Bosnia six years before changing his eligibility. He completed his switch to Ghana in 2022, choosing to represent his family’s country of origin.
In his retirement message, Williams said he was leaving with pride and satisfaction after giving everything whenever he wore the Ghana shirt. He also described the experience as more significant than football alone, saying it had strengthened his connection to his roots and allowed him to represent the flag of his ancestral homeland.
The forward thanked supporters and everyone involved in his time with the national side, adding that Ghana would remain part of him and that he would continue to follow the Black Stars as a supporter.
His departure brings an end to a notable international chapter for the Athletic forward, while his younger brother Nico Williams has followed a different route with Spain. Nico was part of the Spain squad that won this year’s World Cup.
Iñaki Williams will now concentrate fully on Athletic, where he remains captain and a key senior figure in the Spanish club’s squad.
