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Joshua Kimmich has long been one of Europe’s most tactically gifted players, but the debate around his best position has followed him for nearly a decade. Now, German legend Philipp Lahm weighs in with clarity. From Bayern Munich’s shifting systems to Germany’s evolving identity, Lahm explains why Kimmich’s versatility is both a blessing and a burden, and where he truly belongs on the pitch.

Lahm explains where Kimmich should really play

At Bayern, Kimmich has spent the last few seasons orchestrating play as a No. 6, the heartbeat of midfield. For Germany, however, recent tournaments have seen him pushed back to right-back, a role he mastered earlier in his career.

Lahm, the one player Kimmich is most often compared to, finally offered a clear and thoughtful answer. Reflecting on his own positional shifts during the 2014 World Cup, Lahm explained the unique circumstances behind his temporary move into midfield.

“My situation was a little different because Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira were both returning from long-term injuries. So I initially played in midfield and then returned to the full-back position because it was better for the team,” said Lahm.

Germany’s balance dictated Lahm’s role at the time. But with Kimmich, Lahm sees no such tactical necessity forcing him back into defence. Instead, he believes Kimmich is strongest where he can influence the game everywhere which is certainly the middle of the pitch.

Speaking at his induction into the German Sports Hall of Fame, Lahm stated: “To be honest, I actually see him as number eight, with a number six next to him. That would be my optimal position for Joshua Kimmich.”

He further dismissed concerns about Kimmich’s positional switches: “Of course, it helps a player if he plays in one position for a longer period of time, also for the safety of the team. But there are always exceptions, and Joshua Kimmich has proven that he can play both positions at a high level.”

Kimmich’s evolution at Germany mirrors Lahm’s career arc, with leadership responsibilities growing each year. Now captain of the national team, he is steering a side in transition, a path Lahm once walked. Both crossed the 100-cap mark, both led their countries through identity shifts, and both became tactical cornerstones for club and country.

AdvertisementAFPWhat connects Kimmich and Lahm

Comparisons between Kimmich and Lahm are inevitable because of the similarities and the overlap in their careers. Lahm retired, Kimmich stepped in. Lahm mastered both full-back and midfield, Kimmich followed the same path.

After Lahm’s retirement in 2017, the Bavarians needed a modern full-back who could also drift into midfield, Kimmich filled the void seamlessly. Over the years, as Bayern shifted toward a more possession-dominant style, he moved into midfield permanently and became the club’s main tempo-setter. This mirrored Lahm’s late-career shift under Pep Guardiola, who famously called Lahm “the most intelligent player I have ever coached.”

The comparison also persists because Kimmich embodies Lahm’s traits with leadership, discipline, tactical discipline, and versatility. He has captained Germany, orchestrated Bayern’s midfield and continues to be the emotional engine of both teams.

But Kimmich brings something different too, a more aggressive passing range, sharper deliveries and a directness Lahm rarely displayed. Their careers are intertwined, but their identities are distinct. Lahm recognises this, praising Kimmich’s adaptability while reminding critics that he is his own player.

Bayern’s evolution: From Lahm’s era to Kimmich’s rise

Lahm’s Bayern era was defined by control, precision and tactical perfection. He was the anchor of a team that won a treble and consistently dominated Europe. His reading of the game was so sharp that Guardiola shifted him from full-back to defensive midfield without hesitation and the transition was flawless. 

Kimmich’s journey followed a different rhythm. Early scepticism about his size, physicality and defensive experience faded quickly as he became one of Europe’s top right-backs from 2016 to 2019. After mastering that role, Bayern’s changing systems moved him into midfield, where he powered the sextuple-winning 2019-20 season.   

As Germany moved into a new era after the retirements of icons such as Lahm, Schweinsteiger, and later Toni Kroos and Ilkay Gundogan, Kimmich stepped into a central role. His performances in Nations League campaigns, Euro qualifiers and friendly fixtures showcased his ability to dominate games with passing range, tactical reading, and relentless work rate. Kimmich’s influence grew further when he was appointed the captain of Germany, becoming the face of a country trying to rebuild its footballing identity after years of inconsistency.

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Getty Images SportKimmich's chance to shine at the 2026 World Cup

Kimmich’s positioning debate is not just tactical — it shapes the identity of both Bayern Munich and Germany. For Bayern, the question is whether he remains the heartbeat of midfield or shifts again depending on future managers. His ability to dictate tempo, orchestrate build-up, and deliver in big matches makes him irreplaceable.

For Germany, the discussion is even more crucial. The national team is rebuilding after several disappointing tournaments, and Kimmich’s exact role will determine the stability of the midfield and the freedom of emerging attackers. The upcoming 2026 World Cup is a huge occasion for Kimmich to step up and bring the trophy to Munich like Lahm. 

Manchester United are looking to add to their squad in January, and Fabrizio Romano has revealed one signing the Red Devils absolutely “will” make in 2026.

Ruben Amorim will be pleased with the progress his side have made in their last batch of Premier League matches with the international break now here, given that the Red Devils have gone five games unbeaten in the top-flight.

Despite looking set for a defeat last weekend, Matthijs De Ligt’s late header against Tottenham salvaged Manchester United a draw in the capital to keep his side one point off the top four.

Intriguingly, the Red Devils now sit above Liverpool on goal difference after their heavy defeat to Manchester City on Sunday, which is a testament to their resilience despite losing three players due to injury, something Amorim was keen to point out when speaking to Match of the Day.

“It was a complicated match, especially in the end. If you look at the game the three points were there to take. I think we can be so much better to understand more what’s happening in the game,” said the United boss.

“We lacked a little bit in the final third, the quality was not perfect. We fight in every adversity. We lost Harry Maguire, Casemiro, Benjamin Sesko and we lose two goals, but we still managed to score.”

While the Slovenian appears to be the worst of the casualties, it does beg the question of where Manchester United could look to strengthen in January. With that in mind, Romano has delivered a telling update from Old Trafford.

Fabrizio Romano confirms Man Utd "will" sign midfielder

Speaking on GIVEMESPORT’s Market Madness podcast, Romano has confirmed that Manchester United will “for sure” sign a midfielder next year, noting that Atletico Madrid star Conor Gallagher and Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller are two targets that the club could look to acquire.

Conor Gallagher in 2025/26 – all competitions

Appearances – 16

2 goals 0 assists

Angelo Stiller in 2025/26 – all competitions

Appearances – 17

1 goal 5 assists

With both midfielders excelling inside Europe’s top five leagues, it appears there could be room for movement, even if January may not be a suitable time due to the difficult nature of conducting business mid-season.

Man Utd are also eyeing a midfielder they could get a £60m discount on

Gallagher’s homegrown status would also appeal to Amorim. However, there are no certainties in football, and it appears that there is plenty of work to be done before Manchester United secure a new operator in the engine room.

Delhi Capitals’ co-owner on the “devastation” of losing out on Pant, their rationale in buying KL Rahul, and the plans for the season ahead

Nagraj Gollapudi27-Nov-20243:16

Rahul or Axar – who will captain DC? Jindal answers

KL Rahul is now a frontrunner to lead DC?It’s a bit premature to talk about the captaincy. Axar Patel has been with the franchise for a very long time and he was the vice-captain for the last cycle, so we don’t know whether it’s going to be Axar or whether it’s going be somebody else. A lot has to happen. I spoke to KL but haven’t met him yet. I know him very well personally, I will understand from him (what he thinks), and, it will boil down to what the coaching group and finally what Kiran (Grandhi, the co-owner) and I want to do. There’s a lot of time for that. What did Rahul say? He’s very happy, very excited to be part of Delhi. He knows me for a long time. He’s a Bangalore (Bengaluru) boy. I own Bengaluru FC (in the Indian Super League), so he’s watched a few games with me. I know his wife Athiya (Shetty) really well. She’s been a close family friend growing up in Mumbai. So he (Rahul) was like, “I just want to play cricket. I just want to get the love and support from the franchise. I just want to get the respect and I know Parth from you, I will get that and just can’t be more excited to play for a friend and let’s make Delhi win. I have never won (IPL). Delhi has never won. Let’s do it together.”Related

'Funny off the field, focused on it' – DC's new captain Axar lauded by his team-mates

IPL auction: Chahal the most expensive spinner ever, Starc joins the 50-crore club

IPL auction surprise – no takers for Warner and Thakur

IPL 2025: How the ten teams stack up after the mega auction

IPL 2025 auction: Why did the Iyers attract such big bids?

Capitals also tried to get Shreyas Iyer – can you talk about that bid? Going into the auction, obviously we had a budget in mind for a marquee Indian batsman. Shreyas and Rishabh were coming out in the first set and KL was coming out in the second set. We were very clear that between the three of them, we needed to get one. So we went all the way for Shreyas. Frankly, it (Shreyas’ bid) went a bit too high and I think my reaction was very visible on the table (chuckles) – it (the bid) had crossed all budgets.Rishabh came out next. We did do the right-to-match for him at INR 20.25 (crore), but again, the budget went extremely high. And (then) we got KL for well below what we anticipated he would go at – it’s a real blessing in disguise that we got him.What does KL offer you? Stability, number one. He’s an incredible, I would say, technically solid batsman. He will thrive at the Kotla, given the size of the ground. He also gives us flexibility: he can bat anywhere in the top four, and that’s a very rare skill for someone to have. He’s also great senior player to have in the dressing room, a great mind of the game as well. And he’s just a great brand ambassador. He’s super polite, he’s gentle, he’s aggressive when he needs to be. And the most obvious thing he gives you is 450 runs (in a season) guaranteed, which is something he’s done his whole (IPL) career. So that kind of consistency is rare to find.You are right. There’s only one season between 2018 and 2024 where he did not score 500 runs, which was the season he got injured and only managed to play nine games with LSG in 2023. So you are looking to build the batting line-up around him? In terms of responsibility, KL and Axar are going to play a bigger role for the batting, and we are going to be surrounding them with explosive players – whether it’s a Jake Fraser-McGurk, whether it’s a Tristan Stubbs, whether it’s a Harry Brook, whether it’s an Ashutosh Sharma – there is a lot of explosive power in the team. And you need someone to hold the team together, and, in KL we have a batsman who can definitely hold one end up and play on those difficult wickets as well. Because looking at the way Chennai (Super Kings) have lined up, looking at the way some of the other teams are lined up, there are going to be some dust bowls in the IPL. So you definitely need players who can navigate those kinds of situations and also guide some of these younger players on what to do.”Rishabh, we lost him when we didn’t retain him. That was very, very clear”•Associated PressBefore I come to Rishabh Pant, describe your reaction, in your own words, about the Shreyas bid? By the end of it, I think the emotion had taken over strategy. It was madness by the end of it. It would’ve spoiled our whole auction if we had landed either of those players (Shreyas or Pant) at those prices.Why? We wouldn’t have (had) enough money for building the rest of the squad. We would’ve not been able to get the fast bowlers we ended up getting. We wouldn’t have been able to get Jake (Fraser-McGurk) back. We wouldn’t have been able to get a Harry Brook. It would’ve really compromised the balance of our team.The number then you clearly had in your mind before the auction for either of those two was not that high then? No. We were okay to stretch up to INR 22-23 (crore).Whether it be Shreyas, whether it be Pant? Rishabh, we lost him when we didn’t retain him. That was very, very clear. it would’ve been a huge fluke if we got him at INR 21 or 22 (crore) at that level. The minute we didn’t retain him, I knew he was gone. Disappointing slightly, I guess? Oh, devastating. Completely devastating. I love the boy like my own brother. He took a call at the end of the day. We tried our best. He took the decision, and we have to respect it.”KL is a great brand ambassador. He’s super polite, he’s gentle, he’s aggressive when he needs to be”•BCCIIt was clearly not about money? It was just a different philosophy of how he wanted the franchise to operate and how us – the owners – wanted the franchise to operate. That’s what caused it. There’s nothing to do with money. Money’s never been an issue for Rishabh. And money’s never been an issue for us. I guess the three of us (Grandhi, Jindal and Pant) were on different wavelengths. He took a call at the end of it. We tried everything, but he decided eventually that it was time to move on.What was Kiran [Grandhi]’s input on Pant before the final decision was taken? His equation with Rishabh is different from mine. He’s known Rishabh for a lot longer than I have. Kiran was also very clear that we must try to retain him and we can bend as much as possible, but beyond a certain point, he (Pant) needs to understand where we are coming from and if that mutual understanding is missing, then the two have to take a decision.What is the philosophy you mentioned? It means the way the franchise is to run, the decisions of the franchise, those kinds of things. There were certain expectations that he had and there were certain expectations we had. And without going into further details, I can just say that we couldn’t align on these things.Was leadership one of the key talking points? Not really. We gave him some feedback regarding leadership. We told him ways in which he could improve on that, but we were quite clear that we know his ambitions, we know where he wants to go. He’s made it amply clear that his dream and desire is to captain India and that starts with captaining an IPL team.Sticking to the leadership point, you have mentioned Axar, the first player DC retained, is or could be in contention at least to lead. What is it that Axar brings as a leader? See, Axar has been with the franchise for a long period of time. He has been a tremendous player for the franchise. He is probably the best allrounder in the game today in T20s. Obviously, the successor to Jaddu (Ravindra Jadeja) is Axar in all respects. So he’s been phenomenal for us and he’s done a great job as the vice-captain of the franchise. Whenever Rishabh was not available, whenever Rishabh was injured, Axar did step in and play a big role. He’s a jovial fellow, he keeps the dressing room very light. He’s an uncomplicated character and he’s someone who, I think, can do a great job. So we have to take a decision, but I haven’t even spoken to Axar about it. I haven’t spoken to anybody about it, but he’s definitely someone we consider to read the game very well. He’s definitely someone who keeps the dressing room together, which are good characteristics for a leader.Delhi Capitals contingent featuring Parth Jindal and Kiran Grandhi•BCCIAnd you’ve also got JFM, Tristan Stubbs and Harry Brook – on paper at least, these three can set fireworks if they are in the mood and if they get into the rhythm.. Don’t forget, Ashutosh Sharma. Like you said, those three explosive players are in our team, JFM, Harry Brook and Stubbs. And then you have KL, Axar, and (Abhishek) Porel. So I think (our) batting is very, very strong. We kept in mind the conditions at the Kotla while choosing our team. It looks like 230, 240 is now the par score at the Kotla, so we need to have that kind of firepower to either make that score or chase that score.You also got Mitchell Starc who proved to be a smart and cheap buy compared to the record price he got last auction. No doubt he is going to be DC’s bowling leader? Yeah, of course. We were looking for someone to lead the bowling line-up. He brings together that winning mentality. He’s not only a World Cup winner, he (also) won the IPL last season. He’s very handy with the bat and he’s a very nice person as well. I was hearing Harshit Rana’s interview and Harshit talking about how much he picked up from Mitchell Starc. So he brings a lot of benefits as a cricketer.Mukesh (Kumar), too, really understands the conditions in Delhi. He’s really coming into his own as well as a bowler, both with the new ball and at the death. And then Nattu (T Natarajan), too,is great. We were very keen on (getting) him. I remember last season when Sunrisers (Hyderabad) were playing Delhi at the Kotla – Natarajan was very difficult to get away because of his yorkers, his slower-ball bouncers, his change-ups. From Rishabh to everyone else, they found it very difficult to get him away. So, from that day, we realised that, okay, this is a bowler we need to target. Mohit (Sharma) again, same thing: can bowl at the death, can bowl with a new ball, back-of-the-hand, has changeups. Very experienced bowler. And then you have (Dushmanta) Chameera, who can fill in if anything happens to any of our fast bowlers.

“When you don’t do well in a cycle, like for us, this previous cycle was an unsuccessful cycle: fifth place, ninth place, and fifth place (between 2022-24). No playoffs for Delhi Capitals. So you look forward to a mega auction much more”Parth Jindal believes the mega auction is what makes the IPL unique

DC also have a new and young coaching staff in Venugopal Rao (team director) and Hemang Badani (head coach). Is Sourav Ganguly (director of cricket until 2024) there to help them out or will they be independent, and you are going to allow them the space to grow? It’s up to them really. We are always available. Dada (Ganguly) is always available. I’m always available for whatever that they may require. It’s our team. From what I have seen during the preparations for the auctions, they are very confident in their own abilities, and I feel very confident that they’ll be able to do a very good job for the franchise.So you are looking forward to DC turning a new leaf then? Turning a new leaf is one way of saying it. It’s emotional because you let go of players who have been with you for so many years, but you also get the opportunity to build new relationships and develop new players as well.When you don’t do well in a cycle, like for us, this previous cycle was an unsuccessful cycle: fifth place, ninth place, and fifth place (between 2022-24). No playoffs for Delhi Capitals. So you look forward to a mega auction much more. The previous cycle (2018-21) when we came third, lost in the finals, came top of the table and lost both the Eliminators. (Back then) We were very upset to get into the (2022) mega auction. The dynamics keep changing, but it is what makes the IPL so special, and, I hope that the mega auction continues forever because it’s truly what makes the IPL so unique.

Jacob deGrom is back.

The Texas Rangers right-hander was named to the American League All-Star team last week in recognition of what is turning into a brilliant comeback season. A two-time Cy Young Award winner, deGrom has battled injuries since the 2021 season but is finally healthy again in 2025.

The 37-year-old had a dominant 2021 campaign ended by elbow inflammation, and missed much of the 2022 campaign due to a stress reaction in his right scapula. After leaving the New York Mets to sign a five-year, $185 million deal with the Rangers in December of 2022, he made just six starts for his new team before needing Tommy John surgery. He didn't start another major league game until September 13, 2024.

This season, deGrom has returned to form, and while he's not notching as many strikeouts as he used to, he has been excellent. Through 18 starts, he's 9-2 with a 2.29 ERA, a 0.91 WHIP, and 105 punchouts against 23 walks in 106 1/3 innings. He's currently eighth among AL pitchers in fWAR (2.6).

Though it has been years since he was at his peak, deGrom has a legitimate claim to being the most dominant pitcher of his generation. What follows is a look inside the numbers of his comeback season and his brilliant career. It should serve as a reminder of just how great he is.

1 — Pitchers with more WAR than deGrom since he broke into the big leagues in 2014. Only Max Scherzer's total of 56.3 tops deGrom's 45.4

2 — Pitchers with more fWAR than deGrom since 2014. Scherzer (52.7) and Clayton Kershaw (46.4) top deGrom's total of 45.6.

21 — More appearances (20 starts) Kershaw has had than deGrom in that time.

60 — More appearances (all starts) Scherzer has had than deGrom in that time.

0.99 — deGrom's career WHIP, second to Kershaw's 0.96 since 2014.

2.50 — deGrom's career ERA, second to Kershaw's 2.45 since 2014.

2.63 — deGrom's FIP since 2014, best among pitchers with at least 50 starts. Spencer Strider second by a significant margin (2.78), followed by Chris Sale (2.79) and Kershaw (2.83).

156 — deGrom's career ERA+, second to Kershaw's 162 since 2014. (Side note: Clayton Kershaw was really good. He was also a six-year veteran when deGrom debuted.)

1.08 — deGrom's ERA in 2021. He only made 15 starts, which prevents it from being considered one of the greatest seasons of all-time, but he had a WHIP of 0.75 and 146 strikeouts and 11 walks in 92 innings. An elbow injury ended his season on July 18.

373 — deGrom's ERA+ during that season, the best in MLB history for a pitcher making 15 or more starts by nearly. Pedro Martinez finished at 291 during his legendary 2000 season. When factoring in the Negro Leagues, deGrom's 2021 season is still the best by 50 points, topping Slim Jones's 1934 season for the Philadelphia Stars where he finished at 323.

1.98 — deGrom's combined ERA from 2018 through the '21 season. In that time, he made 91 starts and went 32-21 with 774 strikeouts in 581 innings pitched with a 0.88 WHIP.

205 — His ERA+ in that time, one of the most dominant four-year stretches for a pitcher in baseball history.

4 — deGrom's leaguewide rank in WHIP (0.91) among starting pitchers this season.

6 — His leaguewide rank in ERA (2.29) among starters.

20 — Combined starts by deGrom from 2022 through '24.

18 — Starts he has made this season.

15 — Starts in which he has allowed two or fewer runs in 2025.

14 — Consecutive starts in which deGrom went at least 5 innings while allowing two or fewer runs, which lasted from April 18 through July 7. It was the longest such streak in the American League since 2014.

97.4 — Average miles per hour of deGrom's four-seam fastball in 2025, which ranks fourth among qualified starters in MLB. A reminder: he's 37 years old.

Injuries cost deGrom the better part of four seasons, but that shouldn't taint his legacy. He remains one of the best pitchers of his generation and has reminded everyone of his greatness again this season.

His first All-Star selection since 2021 might be deGrom's greatest, given all he's been through in the past four seasons. He's back where he belongs, among the best pitchers in the sport.

Glamorgan squander promising position at 199 for 3 as offspinner finds life in Old Trafford deck

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay29-Jul-2025Glamorgan 260 for 8 (Tribe 61) vs Lancashire Australian spinner Chris Green managed to take six wickets on the much-criticised Emirates Old Trafford pitch as Lancashire had the better of the first day of their Rothesay County Championship Division Two clash with Glamorgan.After just four wickets fell during the last day-and-a-half of the recent Test match between England and India, the home side’s bowlers looked to be facing another uphill task in Manchester until the introduction of Green turned the proceedings the Red Rose’s way with the Welsh outfit 260 for 8 at the close of play.For Glamorgan, half-centuries from opener Asa Tribe (61) and Kiran Carlson (77) had put them in a relatively good place and from a position of 199 for 3 after winning the toss and electing to bat they will be rueing their inability to cope with Green’s off spin which claimed 6 for 82 off 34 overs.Earlier and under leaden skies, the decision to bat looked a brave one, but opening bowlers James Anderson and Tom Bailey failed to make much headway against a resolute first wicket pair of Zain-ul-Hassan and Tribe.George Balderson, who received his county cap before play from legendary Pakistani allrounder Wasim Akram, also sent down five fruitless overs and it took until the introduction of Green for Lancashire to threaten the Glamorgan openers. Zain was the first to fall, caught behind by Phil Salt for 31, ending a partnership of 76 runs for the first wicket.Green was suddenly threatening the wickets with every ball, extracting turn and bounce and inducing a number of false shots from Tribe and skipper Sam Northeast, who became the Australian’s second victim when he was trapped in front for 10.Tribe fell 22 balls later soon after completing a well-made half century which should really have been more but for the Channel Islander picking out Bailey perfectly on the leg-side boundary with a sweep.With Tom Hartley tying down the other end, Glamorgan looked in peril but Carlson and Colin Ingram took the opportunity to counter attack with 86 runs coming from the fourth-wicket pair either side of tea until Green raised hopes of taking all 10 for by snaring the latter lbw for 33.Bailey returned to dash that dream when he clean bowled Ben Kellaway for a duck to leave the lower middle order exposed and Green needed no further invitation to complete his third career five-for when Carlson’s innings ended with an edge to Luke Wells.The visitors were subsiding quickly and Chris Cooke was the next to walk after he was stumped by Salt to hand Green his sixth wicket with Glamorgan having suddenly lost four wickets for 30 runs and in danger of undoing their day’s work.With 10 overs of the day left James Harris was dropped by Salt off Bailey while on 8 as he and Mason Crane painstakingly looked to eke out some runs after Lancashire took the second new ball. But after surviving one chance Harris played across the line to Hartley and lost his off stick to the England spinner who is fresh from taking 10 wickets in his last outing for Lancashire.Crane and Ned Leonard managed to see out the remaining overs but Lancashire will be hoping to begin their reply sooner rather than later come the second morning.

Athletic Club star Nico Williams scored a magnificent goal to hand his side a slender win over Real Oviedo in La Liga. The goal has brought Williams back into the limelight, ending a long goal drought that resulted in him being questioned in the wake of the failed summer transfer to reigning Spanish champions Barcelona.

Athletic get the better of Oviedo

After three successive losses to Getafe, Real Sociedad, and Newcastle United across La Liga and the Champions League, Athletic are back on track with a 1-0 win over Oviedo on Sunday. It was their young, dynamic winger Williams who salvaged the solitary goal of the fixture, adding his second of the campaign to lead his team's triumph. 

AdvertisementWilliams ends goal drought

The last time Williams scored or assisted for Athletic was in their first La Liga game of the season – a 3-2 win against Sevilla. The 22-year-old missed a handful of matches due to a groin injury, failed to find the net since his return until he sparked into life against Oviedo. Williams was sharp as he went past three defenders and powered his shot into the goal, rattling the crossbar and the net in the process. 

Williams was once a Barcelona target

Not for one transfer window, but Williams was a top target for Barcelona across two summers. Before this season kicked off, he was almost set to travel to Catalonia after agreeing on personal terms and a six-year contract with Barca, a club that he has admired for a long time. However, Athletic were continuously hesitant to let go of their most promising young talent. Such was the rivalry that there were moments when administrators aimed to block the move. Ultimately, the move came to a surprising halt as Barcelona refused to grant a demand from his agent and the Spain international ended up signing a 10-year contract with the Basque side.

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Getty Images SportWhat comes next for Williams?

Williams has found his foot just at the right time. After Athletic return from the international break, their first game will be against Barca. It will be the first time the two sides meet since Williams snubbed the Catalans and agreed to the Basque club's terms. The game will be played on November 22.