Iñaki Williams has brought his four-year chapter with the Ghana national team to a close. The Athletic Bilbao captain and forward, born in Bilbao to Ghanaian parents, announced his retirement from international football on Friday, September 11, 2026, through a personal statement shared on social media. At 32, he described the moment as the right time to step away after giving everything whenever he pulled on the Black Stars shirt.
Williams made the switch from Spain in 2022 after a single senior appearance for La Roja in a 2016 friendly. Eligible because that cap came in a non-competitive match, he chose to represent the country of his parents, a decision he later said connected him more deeply to his heritage and fulfilled a family wish, including one from his grandfather.
He debuted for Ghana in June 2022 against Brazil and went on to earn 28 caps, scoring twice. Those appearances spanned three major tournaments: the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, and the 2026 World Cup, where Ghana reached the round of 32 before falling 1-0 to Colombia.
In his farewell message he wrote that Ghana had given him far more than football. It allowed him to return home in a deeper sense, feel closer to his roots, and carry the pride of representing the country and its flag. He left happy, proud, and at peace knowing he had committed fully. Williams added that Ghana would always remain part of him and that he would continue supporting the Black Stars as one of their own. “Medaase. Always Ghana,” he closed.
The move to Ghana had generated excitement when it happened. Williams arrived as an established La Liga performer with Athletic Bilbao, a club he has served for more than a decade and now captains. He holds a remarkable record of consecutive league appearances and has helped the Basque side lift silverware, including the Copa del Rey. Translating that club consistency into regular international goals proved more difficult; two strikes in 28 games left some supporters wanting more impact, even as he featured in important campaigns and became one of the team’s more recognizable faces.
Retirement now lets him concentrate fully on Athletic Bilbao, where his contract runs until 2028. The demanding international calendar, recently adjusted by FIFA, had added extra travel and recovery demands. Stepping back from the Black Stars should help manage his workload as he continues a long club career that already exceeds 500 first-team appearances. His younger brother Nico remains with Spain, highlighting the dual identities the family has navigated.