Iñaki Williams Arthuer was born on 15 June 1994 in Bilbao and is best known as the long-serving forward who leads Athletic Bilbao. A powerful and relentless runner, he has become a defining figure at San Mamés and a favourite for collectors and fans on Walkouts thanks to his durability, decisive moments and visible connection to club identity.
Raised largely in Pamplona and first playing youth football with CD Pamplona, Williams joined Athletic's Lezama academy as a teenager. He progressed through the club structure, featuring for Basconia and Bilbao Athletic before establishing himself in the first team. Early promise was marked by prolific scoring at youth level, and a contract signed in June 2013 signalled the club's intent to build around his attributes.
Williams made his La Liga debut on 6 December 2014, and his rise included historic and headline moments. He became the first black player to score for Athletic in European competition, and his consistency produced a remarkable run of appearances, setting a La Liga record of 251 consecutive games. He reached over 450 first-team appearances for Athletic, a milestone that underlines both form and fitness across seasons.
Throughout his career he has supplied memorable performances, notably scoring the extra time winner in the 2020-21 Supercopa de España final on 17 January 2021, and contributing to Athletic's victory in the 2023-24 Copa del Rey. Contract renewals and club records, including successive league appearance streaks, reflect his importance on the pitch and to the club's supporters.
Internationally Williams has a dual narrative. Born and raised in Spain to Ghanaian parents, he made one senior appearance for Spain in 2016 before choosing to represent Ghana in 2022. He featured for Ghana at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, and scored his first international goal on 17 November 2023. His decision to switch allegiance and subsequent displays have broadened his profile across two national fanbases.
For collectors, Williams items hold clear provenance and narrative value. Signed shirts, authenticated autographs, match-worn style merchandise and framed memorabilia connected to his cup-winning goals or record appearance runs carry distinct provenance, linking tangible items to named matches and dates. Authenticity, visible match context and verifiable club connections are central to the desirability of any Williams collectible.
Beyond statistics, Williams represents a modern sporting story of resilience and identity, a player whose career milestones are reflected in both honours and records. His achievements on specific dates, his place as captain and his cup-winning moments provide precise provenance that enhances the storytelling behind any signed shirt or authenticated autograph. As collectors continue to seek meaningful memorabilia, items associated with his defining matches remain notable assets for enthusiasts and historians, and they continue to be featured by Walkouts as part of curated collections.
