Iñaki Williams #19

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In 2021 Williams declined initial overtures from the Ghana Football Association. He had played once for Spain already, in a 2016 friendly, and told The Guardian: “I was born in Bilbao. I won’t ever forget my family roots, but I feel Basque and can’t con anyone. I don’t think it would be right to take the place of someone who really deserves it and who feels Ghana 100%.” But when Ghana came calling again having secured World Cup qualification in 2022, Williams changed his mind. “I still wasn’t clear about it until I went to Ghana with my parents, my family and girlfriend. We went to see the country, the family in Accra and Kumasi. It was emotional, like the whole city was waiting when I got out of the car. It was incredible, incredible. And that’s where everything changed. That’s when I went to talk to my grandad. I told him there was a chance that I could play for Ghana at the World Cup and what did he think. He said straight away that he didn’t have long left to live and he dreamed of his grandson playing for Ghana. There was nothing left to think about then.” His younger brother Nico also plays for Athletic Bilbao, and for Spain.

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