Iñaki Williams Wins LaLiga EA Sports African MVP Award

Athletic Club forward and Ghanaian international Iñaki Williams has been honoured as the 2024/25 Sporty LaLiga MVP, recognizing him as the best African player in LaLiga EA Sports this season.

The announcement was made on Africa Day during a special media event in Johannesburg, South Africa, marking the first time the award ceremony took place on African soil.

Williams, born in Bilbao to Ghanaian heritage, made history as the first back-to-back winner of the award. He secured 32% of the combined votes from a panel of 25 African football journalists and thousands of fans across Sub-Saharan Africa voting through the MiLiga Fan Zone online platform.

He edged out Villarreal CF midfielder Pape Gueye of Senegal, who finished second with 12%, and CA Osasuna defender Flavien Enzo Boyomo from Cameroon, who came third with 10%.

Speaking after receiving the accolade, Williams expressed his pride in representing African roots in one of Europe’s most prestigious leagues: “La Liga has always had African players or those with African heritage. It’s a real honour to represent our roots and to be visible in such a special league with a huge following. It’s inspiring for young people across Africa, where football is a big part of life, to see role models succeed.”

Williams added, “Winning this award twice in a row shows I’m doing things right. I’m proud and happy and hope to make it three consecutive wins!”

A Standout Season for a Deserving Winner

Williams played a pivotal role in Athletic Club’s historic 2024/25 campaign, helping the team secure Champions League football for the first time in ten years. At 30 years old, he logged more minutes than any other player in the squad, contributing a combined total of 14 goals and assists.

“We have an excellent mix of youth and experience at Athletic Club, and we’re playing incredible football,” Williams said.

“After two great seasons, we aren’t setting any limits on ourselves.”

Miguel Puche, Brand Director at Sporty Group, congratulated Williams on his achievement: “Iñaki’s back-to-back MVP wins highlight the growing impact of African football talent. From established stars like him to emerging players such as Yan Diomandé, African influence in La Liga continues to strengthen. We at Sporty are proud to support and celebrate this journey, bringing LaLiga closer to fans across the continent.”

Tresor Penku, Managing Director of LaLiga Africa, added: “We congratulate Iñaki on retaining the Sporty LaLiga MVP award and applaud another standout season in his remarkable career. We also thank the journalists and thousands of African fans who voted, reflecting the powerful presence of African talent in LaLiga EA Sports.”

Williams follows in the footsteps of previous winners Samuel Chukwueze (Nigeria, 2023) and Yassine Bounou (Morocco, 2022), cementing his place as the first player to win the Sporty LaLiga MVP award twice consecutively.