Iñaki Williams Retires From International Football With Ghana

Athletic Club forward Iñaki Williams has officially retired from international football with Ghana, ending a four-year career with the Black Stars that included appearances at two FIFA World Cups. The 32-year-old announced his decision on Friday, September 11, 2026, saying he felt it was the right moment to close this chapter and turn his full attention to Athletic Club as he looks to manage the latter stages of his career while supporting his younger brother Nico Williams, who represents Spain.

International Career With the Black Stars

Across his international career, the 32-year-old made 28 appearances and scored two goals for the Black Stars. He represented Ghana at three major international tournaments—the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, and the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where the Black Stars were knocked out in the last 32 by Colombia. His final appearance for Ghana came in July 2026, closing a chapter that began with considerable excitement following his decision to represent the four-time African champions.

“I feel the time has come to bring my journey with the Ghana national team to an end. I leave happy, proud and with the peace of mind of knowing that I gave everything every time I wore this shirt.”

Iñaki Williams, Athletic Club forward

Despite his experience and quality at club level, Williams often struggled to establish himself as a consistent and influential figure within the national team setup.

Roots, Family Sacrifice, and Club Legacy

The journey to athletic stardom required immense family sacrifice. Born on June 15, 1994, in Bilbao, Spain, Inaki Williams shares a history rooted in a perilous migration; his parents, Félix Williams and María Arthuer, left Ghana in 1993 in search of a safer future and endured a dangerous journey across the Sahara. María was seven months pregnant with Inaki at the time, while Félix suffered serious injuries to his feet during the journey. After reaching Melilla, the couple eventually made their way to Bilbao with the help of a lawyer and a Catholic priest, Inaki Mardones, whose support inspired them to name their first son after him. Williams grew up in Pamplona in a family that had to make significant sacrifices to get by. His father later moved to London and spent years working security and turnstile jobs outside Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge, leaving Iñaki to take on greater responsibility at home and look after his younger brother, Nico. Williams also worked various small jobs to help his family, including refereeing local youth football matches for around €10 per game.

Iñaki Williams Retires From International Football With Ghana — Photo: Africa Top Sports

Inaki Williams, visible from stomach up wearing a white Ghana shirt with an intricate green, red and yellow spiderweb — Photo: BBC

Football soon became his biggest opportunity, with his talent emerging through local clubs such as Club Natación and CD Pamplona before Athletic Bilbao brought him into the Lezama academy in 2012. After developing through Athletic’s youth system, Williams made his senior debut in December 2014 and went on to establish himself as one of the club’s most important players. He became the first Black player to score a senior goal for Athletic and has since surpassed 500 appearances for the club, further cementing his status at San Mamés. His durability became legendary in La Liga, where he established a record of 251 consecutive appearances running from April 2016 to January 2023, highlighting his exceptional durability. His explosive pace, with top speeds above 35 km/h, has also made him a formidable presence. He helped Athletic end a 40-year wait for the Copa del Rey in the 2023-24 season and has also won the Supercopa de España twice, in 2015 and 2021. His most memorable Super Cup moment came in the 2020-21 final, when he scored the decisive extra-time goal in Athletic’s 3-2 win over Barcelona.

Milestone / Achievement	Details
La Liga Consecutive Appearances	251 matches (April 2016 – January 2023)
Club Appearances & Contract	Surpassed 500 total appearances for Athletic Bilbao
Major Club Trophies	Copa del Rey (2023-24); Supercopa de España (2015, 2021)

Reconnecting With Heritage Beyond Football

Reflecting on his tenure with the national team, Williams emphasized that the experience delivered far more than athletic achievements, providing the chance to reconnect with his heritage.

SPORTS 104: Inaki Williams has reportedly announced his retirement from the Ghana Black Stars. ⚽

“Ghana has given me much more than football. It has allowed me to come back home, feel even closer to my roots and experience the enormous pride of representing my country and wearing this flag on my chest.”

Iñaki Williams, Athletic Club forward

After making his debut in 2022, Williams thanked everyone involved with the national team, thanking everyone from the bottom of his heart who had been part of his journey and for all the love they had always shown him, and said Ghana would always remain a part of him. He pledged to continue supporting the Black Stars as one of them, wherever he is, signing off his emotional message with: Medaase. Always Ghana. 🇬🇭❤️ With his international career concluded, Williams will direct his energy toward Athletic Club, while supporting his younger brother Nico Williams, who represents Spain and has gone on to become a World Cup and European Championship winner with La Roja while continuing to play alongside Iñaki at Athletic Bilbao.