Iñaki Williams Retires from Black Stars After Four Years

Iñaki Williams has announced his retirement from international football with Ghana, bringing an end to his four-year spell with the Black Stars. The 32-year-old forward made the announcement on X, formerly Twitter, revealing that he leaves the national team after earning 28 caps and scoring two goals.

Williams switched his international allegiance from Spain to Ghana in 2022, becoming eligible to represent the country of his parents at senior level. He made his Black Stars debut in June 2022 and went on to feature in Ghana’s squads for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Before making the switch, he had earned one senior appearance for Spain.

In his farewell message, Williams said he was leaving the Black Stars “happy, proud and with the peace of mind of knowing that I gave everything every time I wore this shirt.” He described his time with Ghana as an opportunity to reconnect with his roots and experience the pride of representing his parents’ homeland.

“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. He thanked Ghanaian fans for their support and promised to continue backing the Black Stars “as one of you, wherever I am,” signing off with “Medaase. Always Ghana.”

With his international career now concluded, Williams will turn his full attention to club football with Athletic Bilbao, where he serves as captain and remains an important part of the team. He is contracted to the Spanish club until 2028.