Iñaki Williams has announced his decision to end his international career with Ghana, bringing his four-year spell with the Black Stars to a close.
The Athletic Bilbao forward made the announcement on Friday, September 11, 2026, saying he leaves the national team “happy, proud” and with the satisfaction of having given everything whenever he represented Ghana.
His decision marks the end of a journey that began in 2022 after Williams chose to switch his international allegiance from Spain to Ghana, the country of his parents and his roots.
“I feel the time has come to bring my journey with the Ghana national team to an end. 🇬🇭❤️” he wrote.
Williams said he leaves the national team with pride and no regrets, insisting that he gave everything whenever he wore the Ghana shirt.
“I leave happy, proud and with the peace of mind of knowing that I gave everything every time I wore this shirt,” he added.
His decision comes shortly after Ghana’s 1-0 defeat to Colombia in the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The defeat ended the Black Stars’ campaign, but Ghana had already achieved a significant milestone by reaching the knockout stage for the first time since the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Williams featured in the tournament before bringing the curtain down on his international career.
Williams was born in Bilbao, Spain, on June 15, 1994, to Ghanaian parents who had moved to Spain in search of a better life. He developed his football career in the Basque Country and became one of Athletic Bilbao’s most important players.
Before choosing Ghana, Williams had represented Spain at youth level and made one senior appearance for the Spanish national team in a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2016. Because that appearance came in a friendly, he remained eligible to switch his international allegiance.
In July 2022, Williams officially announced that he would represent Ghana, describing the decision as an opportunity to reconnect with his origins and give something back to the country that meant so much to his family.
The move came ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where Ghana had qualified after defeating Nigeria in the final round of the African qualifiers.
Williams made his Black Stars debut in September 2022, coming on as a substitute during Ghana’s 3-0 friendly defeat to Brazil in Le Havre, France.
He was subsequently selected for Ghana’s squad at the 2022 World Cup and went on to feature at two World Cups, as well as the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Williams’ Ghana journey was never simply about changing the shirt he wore on the international stage.
He had spoken openly about the importance of his Ghanaian heritage and the role his family played in his decision. His first visits to Ghana helped deepen that connection, particularly after years of being associated primarily with Spain and Athletic Bilbao.
That personal meaning was evident again in his farewell message.
“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,” Williams wrote.
During his time with the Black Stars, he became part of a generation that included players such as Thomas Partey, Mohammed Kudus, Jordan Ayew and André Ayew, while also experiencing several difficult moments as Ghana attempted to rebuild its standing on the international stage.
Williams scored twice for Ghana during his international career, including goals during the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. He leaves with 28 appearances for the Black Stars, according to Reuters’ tally following his retirement announcement.
His four-year spell also carried the unusual distinction of seeing him and his younger brother, Nico Williams, represent different countries. While Iñaki chose Ghana, Nico continued with Spain, creating one of the more intriguing family stories surrounding international football.
Now, Iñaki Williams is stepping away from the Black Stars at 32, but he made it clear that his relationship with Ghana is not ending with his international retirement.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who has been part of this journey and for all the love you have always shown me,” he said.
“Ghana will always be a part of me. I will continue supporting the Black Stars as one of you, wherever I am.”
He ended his message with two words that perhaps best capture the meaning of his decision to play for Ghana in the first place: “Medaase. Always Ghana.”
