Ghanaian football star Inaki Williams has once again been crowned the LaLiga African Most Valuable Player (MVP), marking his second consecutive win of the prestigious award. The Athletic Bilbao forward first claimed the title in the 2023/24 season and has now solidified his place as one of the league’s standout African talents.
Williams played a pivotal role in Bilbao’s successful campaign, contributing 14 goals and assists combined as the club secured UEFA Champions League qualification. Speaking after his latest recognition, he expressed immense pride in representing African heritage in LaLiga, a league with a long history of African influence.
“LaLiga has always had African players or players with African heritage, and it’s a real honor to represent our roots in this way, to make us seen in a league that’s so special and has always had such a huge following,” Williams said. He also highlighted the importance of such achievements for young footballers across Africa, calling it “a beautiful thing for young people across Africa, a continent where football has always been a big part of life, to be able to see their role models succeed.”
With 32 percent of the vote from expert journalists and fans across the continent, Williams made history as the first player to win the award in back-to-back seasons. Encouraged by his success, he remains determined to achieve more, stating, “An award like this always means you’re doing things right. I’m so happy and proud that I’ve won it two years in a row… hopefully, I can make it three!”
In another piece of news, Athletic Bilbao have officially named Iñaki Williams as the club’s new captain following the departure of long-serving skipper Óscar De Marcos, who played his final match against Barcelona on the last day of the La Liga season, Sunday, May 25, 2025.
