Inaki Williams Retires from Ghana National Team

Inaki Williams has closed the door on his Ghana adventure, ending a brief but emotionally charged international career with the Black Stars.

The 32-year-old Athletic Club forward confirmed on social media that he is retiring from Ghana duty, drawing a line under a spell that brought 28 caps, two goals and appearances on the biggest stages the game can offer.

“I feel the time has come to bring my journey with the Ghana national team to an end,” he wrote, explaining that he steps away “happy, proud and with the peace of mind of knowing that I gave everything every time I wore this shirt.”

A late, heartfelt switch

Born in Bilbao to Ghanaian parents, Williams grew up in Spain’s football system and even pulled on the Spain shirt at youth level, later featuring in a 2016 senior friendly. For years, that seemed to settle the question of his international future.

Then came the turn.

In 2022, on the eve of the World Cup in Qatar, Williams opted to represent Ghana, the country of his parents, the country he still calls “home.” He made his debut in September that year and quickly became part of the Black Stars’ attacking options.

The decision took him to two Fifa World Cups – 2022 and 2026 – and to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. On paper, the numbers are modest: two goals in 28 games. On the pitch, his work rate and direct running gave Ghana a different dimension in attack.

This year, he featured twice at the 2026 World Cup before Ghana’s campaign ended in the last 32 against Colombia. That defeat now stands as his final act in a Black Stars shirt.

Roots, pride and a family split

Williams has never hidden what the switch meant to him. In his farewell message, he said his time with Ghana had given him “much more than football,” stressing how the experience had allowed him “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.”

His story has always been entwined with that of his younger brother, Nico. Both came through at Athletic Club, both emerged as top-level wingers, yet they chose different flags. Nico committed to Spain and has already become a World Cup and European Championship winner with La Roja, while Inaki carried Ghana’s hopes at major tournaments.

One family, two national anthems, and now one chapter closed.

A farewell as Ghana reset

Williams’ announcement lands at a moment of transition for Ghana. Just a week earlier, the Ghana Football Association confirmed that Carlos Queiroz would return as head coach to lead the team into the build-up for the 2027 Afcon, to be hosted across Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Queiroz will shape the next version of the Black Stars without the Bilbao forward, who now steps aside as a new cycle begins. His departure removes an experienced figure from the dressing room, but it also opens space for the next wave of Ghanaian forwards to stake their claim.

Williams, though, made it clear he is not turning his back on the team, only on the shirt.

“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 wrote. “Ghana will always be a part of me. I will continue supporting the Black Stars as one of you, wherever I am.”

The boots are off at international level. The bond, he insists, is not.