The Untold Story behind Nico Williams’ History: When Faith works

The history of the Left winger, Nico Williams is a tale of determination and resilience, starting with his parents’ dream of a better life for their future children.

Nico’s parents, Felix and Maria, were newly married and desperate to leave Ghana for Europe, seeking better opportunities. Unfortunately, they fell into the hands of traffickers, paying them to guide them through the treacherous Sahara Desert.

Tragically, halfway through their journey, the traffickers abandoned Felix, Maria, and about 40 others, leaving them stranded in the scorching desert. The traffickers’ cruel parting words were, “The journey ends here.”

Stranded without food or water, Nico’s parents and the others faced extreme starvation and dehydration. Felix and Maria were forced to drink their own urine to survive, and sadly, some of their fellow travelers didn’t make it.

With no other option, Nico’s parents trudged barefoot across the burning desert dunes, enduring temperatures ranging from 40 to 50 degrees Celsius.

This article reveals the harrowing struggles behind Nico Williams’ family history and much more about the winger’s incredible journey.

Our Nico Williams Biography tells you Facts about his Childhood Story, Early Life, Parents – Maria Williams (Mum), Felix Williams (Dad), Family Background, Brother (Inaki Williams), Girlfriend/Wife to be, etc.

This article about the Pamplona-born star also tells you facts about his Ghanaian Family heritage, Parents’ desperate migration from Ghana to Spain, Religion, Ethnicity, etc. More so, the Lifestyle, Personal Life, net worth, Salary Breakdown, plus other untold facts of the Spanish Winger.

Preamble:

Our version of Nico Williams’ Bio begins by unveiling notable events of his boyhood years.

Next, we’ll explain Nico’s Ghanaian heritage, his parents’ migration story, including the role of his parents and brother in his early upbringing.

And finally, how the Spanish Baller rose to become one of the best Wingers of his football generation.

We hope to whet your autobiography appetite as you read this engaging piece of Nico Williams’ Biography.

To start going that, let’s first show you this photo gallery that portrays his boyhood to national rise. Indeed, Nicholas has come a long way in his amazing life and career journey.

As of 2022, he is literally Spain’s best Winger – ahead of Pablo Sarabia and Dani Olmo. Nico is a dribbler, just like Neymar, Dembele, and Kylian Mbappe.

He has, over the years, put on a series of shows for Bilbao. This feat has made him step out of his older brother’s shadow. And as of today, many soccer experts have predicted great things for him and his future.

Despite the buzz surrounding Nico’s meteoric rise in football, Lifegobber notices a research gap in his history.

Our team found that not many football lovers have read an in-depth version of Nico Williams’ Biography, which is very exciting. So, without further ado, let’s begin.

Nico Williams Childhood Story:

For starters, in the Spaniard’s Biography reading, he bears the nickname Nico. Nicholas Williams Arthuer is his full name.

Nico was born on the 12th day of July 2002 to his Mother, Maria Williams and Father, Felix Williams, in Pamplona, Spain. He shares the same birthplace with Mikel Merino, the Chelsea Legend César Azpilicueta and Oihan Sancet.

The Spanish winger came to the world as the last born child among two children (himself and an older brother) born to the blissful marital union of Maria and Felix.

Now, let’s introduce you to Nico Williams’ Parents – persons whose love for him originates through their deep sacrifice and pains.

Growing-Up:

Nico is the baby brother of Iñaki, who has always had his back since their childhood years. To this day, the youngster couldn’t have imagined life without his big sibling, who showed him the way to achieve sporting success.

From the onset, Inaki has always got Nico’s back. When their Dad was away in London (for about ten years), he stood as Nico’s father.

Nico Williams Early Life:

When he was little, Nicholas’ life ambitions were clear – to follow in his older brother’s sporting footsteps. Aside from looking after baby Nico, Iñaki found time to accompany his brother to soccer matches as soon as he grew up.

In addition, Big Brother Inaki was once a child referee who officiated some of Nico’s soccer games. It was an activity that earned Inaki 10 to 25 euros a week.

Nico Williams Family Background:

The Spanish-born footballer of Ghanaian descent has, in him, very humble beginnings. The story of Nico Williams Family began in the early 1990s in the city of Accra, Ghana. At that time, his Dad (Felix Williams) and Mother (Maria Comfort Arthuer) met and fell in love.

After their traditional marriage rights (now living as a new couple), both Felix and Maria reflected on their lives. They soon became determined to seek a better future for their unborn kids. Felix and Maria conceived the idea of leaving Ghana and travelling by land or sea to Europe.

At first, Nico Williams’ parents agreed they would go to London, in the United Kingdom. However, that decision was dismissed when a friend of Felix provided them with a cheaper opportunity. This family friend told them that with a few hundred dollars, a safe trip to Spain (via the Sahara desert) can 100% be assured.

Felix and Maria fell victim to the above words as they both agreed to a journey to Spain. From that moment, the couple began to gather the money. Like many others who were deceived, the newly wedded couple put themselves in the hands of human traffickers.

Untold Sufferings:

The journey to leave Ghana and depart through the Sahara Desert in North Africa was filled with disappointments. After initially travelling in a van, both Maria and Felix were made to get out of the vehicle when they hadn’t reached their destination. In the words of Nico’s Mum, the Trafikkers said,

The journey to Spain ends here.

Nico Williams’ Parents were left abandoned almost in the middle of the Sahara Desert without food or drink. It became so serious to the point that they both had to drink their own urine to quench their taste. For days, Felix and Maria had to walk on the hot Sahara Desert dunes.

There were cases of fights and theft among the people abandoned. In fact, it got to a point Felix had to sacrifice his shoes to Maria, who had lost hers. Because of that, Nico’s Dad had to walk on barefoot in the hot Sahara desert. Doing that brought huge consequences as it left wounds on the soles of Felix’s feet for many years – a very sad memory.

While trying to survive in the hot Sahara desert, some persons with them who died had to be buried. At that time, Maria and Felix regretted their decision to leave Ghana in the first place. In the words of Nico Williams’ Mum;

“If I knew what we were going to experience in the desert, I would have stayed in Ghana”

His Parents – Maria and Felix got arrested:

After a long and painful journey, Felix and Maria finally reached Melilla. This is a Spanish city located in North Africa. Reaching the city’s border did not mean that the problems for Nico Williams’ parents were over. They had to get into the city illegally, which meant they would have to jump the barbed wire fence as other migrants do.

Felix and Maria jumped the barbed wire fence that delimited the border between Manila and Morocco. Unknown to Nico Williams’ Mum, she was already pregnant with her eldest son, Inaki. Just after jumping the barbed-wired fence, the newly wedded couple got arrested by the Spanish Civil Guard.

The Caritas Godsent lawyer:

Nico Williams’ Parents weren’t just arrested. They were imprisoned, and the Spanish government began a process to have them deported for being undocumented immigrants.

Days before they were to be tried and deported, Felix and Maria had an unexpected visitor, a Caritas lawyer. This Lawyer, a Godsent, gave them a solution in the following words;

Say that you are from Liberia, a country at war, and that you are requesting political asylum.

On the day of the hearing, Felix and Maria found a way to ensure they tore up the papers which showed they came from Ghana.

Next, they told the Judge sitting on their case that they were from war-torn Liberia and were victims of the Civil War. Thanks to that, the couple were finally allowed to enter Spain as political Asylum seekers.

Did you know?… Nico and Inaki Williams once told their parents to find this Lawyer who helped them and thank him again. Sadly for Maria and Felix, they did not remember the Lawyer’s name. They found him but couldn’t see him, and they forgot to ask for any of his contacts immediately after he helped them.

Early Life in Spain:

Cáritas, a non-governmental organization inspired by the Catholic faith, assisted Nico Williams’ parents in finding a place to live in Spain, their new country.

After journeying through Malaga and Madrid, Cáritas took Félix and María to Bilbao. In that city, they meet another good Samaritan, the person of Iñaki Mardones.

The missionary, run by Father Iñaki Mardones, picked Nico’s parents up at the train station. That time was the end of April 1994, two months before Iñaki Williams Arthuer (Nico’s older brother) would be born.

Because Iñaki Mardones knew the English language, communication became easier for him and Nico’s parents.

After an initial temporary stay in a boarding house, Father Iñaki Mardones provided them with a Caritas flat. Since Maria Williams didn’t have a health card, medical personnel were to be paid to help monitor her pregnancy of seven months.

Shortly after, on the 15th day of June 1994, Maria and Felix welcomed their first child to the world. Nico’s older brother was born in the Basurto Hospital in Bilbao, Spain. To show how grateful Maria and Felix are to their helper (Father Iñaki Mardones), they decided to name their son Iñaki after him.

At the time of writing Nico Williams’ Biography, this priest (Father Iñaki Mardones) currently lives in an African country, where he works as a volunteer.

Also to note, it was Reverend Father Iñaki Mardones who gifted Nico’s older brother his first-ever Athletic Bilbao shirt. Here, Maria and Felix, the super parents, tell this version of their story.

Nico Williams Family Origin:

By virtue of being born in Pamplona (a community of Navarre in Spain), the Winger holds Spanish nationality. Tracing down his ancestry, you may have observed that Nico Williams has his family origins in two African countries. First, Maria, his Mum, is a native of Liberia, while Felix, his Dad, is a Ghanaian.

Regarding the place in Ghana where Nico Williams family comes from, our research points to Tema. This is a city of about 209,000 inhabitants, found on the African Atlantic coast, just east of Ghana’s capital, Accra. Here is a map of West Africa that’ll aid your understanding of Nico Williams’ Family Origin.

Identifying with his origins:

In June of 2022, the Williams brothers, including Inaki’s girlfriend (Patricia Morales), went on vacation to Ghana. Nico and Inaki paid a visit to the country of their ancestors. In fact, they visited the exact place where their parents once lived before heading to Spain. Here is a photograph of the modest neighbourhood Nico Williams’ Dad and Mum once lived in.

For Nico, the trip to Tema (in Ghana) wasn’t complete without meeting their extended family members – persons he had never seen physically before. These persons include the bunch of their cousins, aunts and uncles who awaited to receive them in the land of their parents. Nico, particularly, had fun with persons he refers to as his blood.

The Athletic Bilbao winger and his big brother enjoyed some adorable moments with their distant relatives, especially his grandparents. Here, Nico and Inaki took a photo with the oldest of the Williams – their granddad and grandmum.

Nico Williams Ethnicity:

Because the Winger is a Spanish citizen of Sub-Saharan African descent, he automatically belongs to the ethnic group known as Afro-Spaniards. Aside from Nico, there are other Spanish footballers who identify with this ethnic group. Popular among them are Ansu Fati, Adama Traore and Ilaix Moriba. Youngsters – Jarell Quansah and Kobbie Mainoo, who both have Ghanaian heritage, are notable from an English perspective.

Nico Williams Education:

Reaching the age of six, the Spanish winger started his kindergarten or infant school (escuela infantil) at Pamplona, his birthplace. As revealed by Marca, Nico Williams believes that education at home and school can make racism disappear. At the time he went to school, his family endured some very difficult moments, which we’ll tell you about.

One day, when Inaki and his younger brother Nico arrived home from school, they noticed their mother was rushing to leave their house for work. Maria chose to cook up the kids’ launch but left it unfinished. So she had already turned off the cooker before seeing her kids arriving from school.

She then instructed Inaki to put the gas on and then watch the food until it was properly cooked. Finally, he should turn off the cooker when the cooking is done. As soon as Inaki began that (when their mum had left for work), their house’s electricity supply got turned off, and the cooking stopped.

A hungry Nico and Inaki were forced to eat the undercooked food. Their parents’ inability to pay for continuous electricity supply at their home is something the Williams brothers still remember. It gave them (especially Inaki) the motivation to get the best from their careers so they could uplift their family situation.

Nico Williams Biography – Football Story:

The youngster was quite good, like his older brother. Nico began his football with the Pamplona local team before joining Osasuna in 2012. In that summer of 2012, Osasuna organized a new base structure of talented kids. Eleven players and a goalkeeper were selected. Young Nico, as pictured below, was the only black kid among these soccer youngsters.

Back in the day, there were two of Osasuna’s most talented youngsters whose names always appeared in the newspaper. Interestingly, both were namesakes – Nicolás Serrano Galdeano (born in 2003) and Nicholas Williams Arthuer (Inaki’s brother). Both lads were not only nicknames but best friends who excelled at the same wing position.

Young Nico could only defend the youths of Osasuna for only one season. During that time and even to date, fans were always amazed at his physical power and goal prowess. In fact, Osasuna feared that holding their brightest talent was going to be impossible. So they prepared for the worst, that is, losing him to a better academy.

Nico Williams Bio – Road to Fame Story:

All three boys, as pictured above, had the same football godfather – the person of Félix Taínta. This man has taken care of Nico’s career since he was little. Thanks to good career guidance, Nico defended the Osasuna shirt with passion. He was the kind of kid who scored in top competitions, a feat that saw him making big headlines in Spanish newspapers.

From the moment the Whiz Kid won the award for the best goal in the above competition, Athletic Bilbao made their intentions clear. The club wanted Nico to join his older brother, Inaki, who had just broken into the Bilbao senior team after scoring 35 goals in his previous season.

The first signs of victory for Nico Williams’ Parents:

Bilbao Athletic wanted their child, but the club found it difficult to bring both his Mum and Dad together. Nico’s Dad, Felix and his Mum, Maria, were separated at that time (not in marriage terms). While Felix was in London working, his wife Maria stayed in Spain. She looked after Nico and had three part-time jobs in Pamplona.

​​Iñaki was not living with Nico and his mum when his club wanted his little brother. He lived in Bilbao as a residence footballer. His little brother could not join him because of his young age. Nico continued to stay at their family’s farmhouses when Inaki left to live in the digs.

Because the club wanted the kid (Nico) at all costs, Bilbao Athletic decided to offer the Williams family a new house close to the club. With that house (including Inaki’s success with Bilbao), the fortunes of Nico’s family began to see great signs of improvement, especially in their living standard.

Nico Williams Biography – Rising to Fame:

The Rising WhizKid of Spanish football left the Osasuna quarry at the age of 11. There were compelling reasons, and nobody in Osasuna objected because Nico’s transfer move was understandable. Fast forward to the 11th of May 2020, Nico got promoted to Athletic Bilbao’s reserve team in the Segunda División B.

To experience two siblings with Subsaharan African backgrounds reaching the heights of senior football is not very common in Spanish football. Seeing that they do it in the same La Liga team is very rare.

This is the case of the Williams brothers – Inaki and Nico. Within his first games, young Nico (as seen here) exploded for Bilbao.

Making history and reflecting on the difficult journey:

Nico Williams made his first team and La Liga debut on the 28th day of April 2021. In that match, his brother Iñaki also came off the bench to join him on the field, thereby making history. Do you know?… it was the first time two siblings were seen on the pitch at the same time for the club since Patxi and Julio Salinas in 1986.

Both William brothers stood out for their good performances. And, logically, the focus was always placed even more on them each time they were both present in any Athletic football match. Thanks to Nico’s performance, Luis Enrique was forced to call him to the Spanish national team, a decision that paid off from the first day.

Top European clubs would certainly want to snatch Nico from Bilbao following the assist he made to Alvaro Morata, which helped Spain defeat Portugal in September 2022. As Marca revealed, Athletic Bilbao, upon noticing that, has accelerated the need to extend the clause of Nico Williams.

Joy at last for the family:

The Williams parents’ story is an example of how the destiny that life seemed for some people can be changed in a matter of time. Thankfully, Nico and Inaki have both achieved their dream of lifting their parents out of poverty. Some decades ago, when his parents decided to leave Ghana for Spain, this dream seemed unthinkable.

Truth be told here… Absolutely nothing would make Felix and Maria imagine (almost three decades ago) image that they could live in the current situation of football riches. They would not think that their two sons would be recognized as Superstars in one of the best football championships in the world.

Even though they made a wrong transportation choice, their determination and effort (since 1994, when they left Ghana for Spain via the Sahara desert) have made it possible. For Nico and Inaki, hearing their parents’ stories makes them want to fight even harder to give back everything they sacrificed for them. The rest, as we say, is now history.

Who is Nico Williams Girlfriend?

With all the fame he is already achieving in Athletic Bilbao and the Spanish national team (at a very young age), one thing is certain. Nico Williams, like Pedri and Gavi, are already considered successful Athletes.

Now, there is a saying that behind every Red Fury celebrity comes a glamorous WAG. In the case of Nico Williams, We asks the ultimate question…

Who is the winger dating?

In the course of getting to know whether the Pamplona native has a girlfriend, we found that he is yet to disclose any information about it publicly.

Perhaps the career advisers of the winger (including his parents) know that a young football career can be unforgiven. Especially when it gets mixed with relationship matters. At least for now (the year 2022), Nico Williams appears single, without a girlfriend.

Personal Life Outside Football:

Who is Nico Williams?

Born to a Liberian mother and a Ghanaian father, the youngster, like his older brother, has never hidden his humble origins. If it weren’t for the good people Nico’s parents met along the way, maybe he wouldn’t have existed or be where he is today. Both brothers are now very clear that they owe, in large part, a lot to their parents.

Nico Williams Lifestyle:

Before 2022, the young footballer didn’t know what it was like to live in Africa. But his parents’ culture and values became more of his identity in June of 2022 when he travelled to Ghana. Nico Williams lives a humble lifestyle. Despite the money he makes in football, there is no such thing as him showcasing luxury cars, big mansions, etc. He is as grounded as his older brother, Inaki.

Nico Williams Family Life:

Ever since he began following in his older brother’s footsteps, he has vowed to give back everything his parents sacrificed for him. Nico admits he cannot pay them but assures himself of giving his Dad and Mum the life they had only dreamt of. This section tells you more about them.

Nico Williams Mother:

Before getting married to Felix, she answered the name; Maria Comfort Arthuer. The last name (Arthuer) is Nico’s maternal family name. Nico Williams’ Mum had always wanted to see her two boys play together. Seeing them doing that in 2021 was a big dream come true for the mother of two.

To this very day, the mother of Nico Williams often gets emotional whenever she sees sand dunes of deserts. Sadly, a recent visit to the Dubai desert (as shown below) reminded her of the past. While whole Williams went on holiday there. Nico’s Dad (unlike his Mum) didn’t fancy the idea of taking a desert tour because of his painful past.

On a visit to the dunes, Maria suddenly began to cry as she remembered that very terrible experience of travelling through the Sahara desert some years ago. Here is a lovely photo of Nico, Maria and Inaki after they have consoled their Mum, who cried about her past. She and her youngest son (whom this Biography is all about) could be seen barefoot.

Nico Williams Father:

Mr Felix, upon emigrating to Spain, first worked as a Shepherd. Out of inspiration to make earns meet, Nico’s Dad did any job people rejected. Soon, Felix Williams became a cleaner at a  building site. After several menial jobs, the Dad of two decided he would travel alone, without his family in London.

Nico and Inaki’s football careers prevented Felix from taking his entire family to London. While living at the English capital, he first worked in a shopping centre. Later, he got a part-time job with Chelsea Football Club as a cleaner and Stanford Bridge ticket attendant.

For many years, Inaki and Nico never knew the source of their Dad’s foot injury. An injury occurred as a result of Felix walking barefoot across the Sahara dunes at 40 to 50 degrees. Thanks to his sons uplifting their family background, Felix is now back to live with his family in the Navarran capital. The proud Dad does find time to attend his son’s games.

Nico Williams Relatives:

When the Baller travelled to Ghana to embrace his extended family members, he was more eager to be in the comfort of his grandparents. As expected, Nico Williams granddad gave both him and Inaki his football blessings. Following that, he said that he would die in peace on the day he sees Inaki wear the Ghana national team jersey.

Nico Williams Brother:

Iñaki Arthuer arrived in the world on the 15th day of June 1994 in Bilbao, Spain. Nico’s brother stands at 1.86 meters OR 6 feet 1 inch, and he plays as a forward with Athletic Bilbao. Inaki Williams holds a record of passing a six-year mark since he last missed a league match for Athletic Bilbao.

Unold Facts:

In the concluding stage of Nico Williams Biography, we’ll tell you more truths you might not know about him. So, without further ado, let’s begin.

Nico Williams Tattoos:

Having body art is often considered artistic, but they are simply not for some top footballers. Nico (unlike his big brother) joins the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, N’Golo Kante and Mo Salah, who have zero tattoos.

Nico Williams Salary Breakdown:

About how much he makes with Athletic Bilbao, our analysis of reveals €2,353,599. When converted to the Ghanaian cedi, Nico Williams annual salary equals Gh₵ 24,045,313.

How rich is the Spanish Winger from Tema?

Where Nico Williams’ Dad come from, the average person working in Accra, Ghana, makes around 7,160 Ghanaian Cedi monthly. Do you know?… Such a person would need 9.1 years to make Nico’s daily salary of Gh₵ 65,957 (or €6,456) with Athletic Bilbao.

And in the case of where Nico Williams’ Mum comes from, the average person in Liberia who makes 71,800 Liberian dollars per month would need 13.3 years to make Nico’s daily wage with Athletic Bilbao. Now, here is how much the Pamplona winger has made since you came here.

Nico Williams FIFA:

What does the Winger’s 86 potential point say?… To start with, Nico Williams is already a favourite to Gamers, especially those who love the FIFA career mode. His explosive Sprint Speed, Acceleration and Agility resemble those of Bukayo Saka and Michael Olise. Let’s not forget the Rising Lamine Yamal.

Nico Williams Religion:

The Spanish-born Winger of Ghanaian and Liberian origins is a devout Christian. It is a confirmed fact that Nico and his family members are Catholics. Before his birth, his parents were part of the Catholic church operated by Reverend Father Iñaki Mardones.

EndNote:

First things first, Nico is just a nickname, and his full names are Nicholas Williams Arthuer. He is not related to Neco Williams, the Wales footballer. The Winger was born and raised by Maria and Felix. Nico Williams parents were once a newly wedded couple who escaped poverty in search of a better future in Europe.

Felix and Maria, his Dad and Mum, were deceived into paying money to human traffickers to get to Spain. Their journey began in a truck loaded with about 40 persons packed in and headed towards the Sahara Desert. Sadly, the Traffickers whom Maria and Felix paid monies for their service abandoned them halfway, around the middle of the Desert.

Nico’s parents were forced to continue their desperate journey with no food or water. It got so serious that they had to drink their own urine to avoid death. Felix sustained severe injuries on the soles of his feet as a result of walking barefoot on the hot desert dunes.

After enduring many difficulties, the couple arrived at Melilla, an autonomous city of Spain located in North Africa. Maria and Felix got arrested when they climbed Melilla’s barbed-wired fence to enter Spain.

A lawyer from Caritas advised them to claim they were from a war-torn Liberia. By doing that, Nico Williams’ parents were saved from deportation.

While living in Spain, a Catholic Priest named Iñaki Mardones provided them with clothes, shelter and other needs. He ensured that Nico’s Mum had a safe delivery of Inaki, his older brother. Inaki was named after Iñaki Mardones, and the Priest became his Godfather.

As a little boy, Nico followed his older brother’s footballing steps. He began his career with Osasuna’s Academy, where he achieved fame in his early career years. In 2013, he joined Athletic Bilbao, where his brother excelled in his football. As a pro, Inaki and Nico Williams have inspired each other to become the talk of the town in Spain and around the world.