Derrick Williams (footballer)

Irish footballer (born 1993)

Derrick Williams

Derrick Williams with Atlanta United FC in 2025

Personal information
Full name|  Derrick Shaun Williams[1]
Date of birth|  (1993-01-17) 17 January 1993 (age 32)[2]
Place of birth|  Hamburg, Germany
Height|  6 ft 1 in (1.86 m)[3]
Position(s)|  Centre back
Team information

Current team

|  Atlanta United
Number|  3
Youth career
|  Tramore AFC
2009–2012|  Aston Villa
Senior career*
Years|  Team|  Apps|  (Gls)
2011–2013|  Aston Villa|  1|  (0)
2013–2016|  Bristol City|  111|  (4)
2016–2021|  Blackburn Rovers|  138|  (6)
2021–2022|  LA Galaxy|  47|  (0)
2022–2023|  D.C. United|  15|  (1)
2024–|  Atlanta United|  41|  (1)
International career‡
2011–2012|  Republic of Ireland U19|  8|  (0)
2012–2013|  Republic of Ireland U21|  6|  (0)
2018–2019|  Republic of Ireland|  3|  (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 03:13, 16 June 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 11:30, 20 October 2022 (UTC)

Derrick Shaun Williams (born 17 January 1993) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Major League Soccer club Atlanta United. He is a product of the Aston Villa Academy, having signed as a youngster from his local side Tramore AFC in County Waterford, and also played in England for Bristol City and Blackburn Rovers. Born in Germany, he played for the Republic of Ireland internationally.

## Early life

[edit]

Williams was born in Hamburg, Germany in 1993,[4] to an Irish mother and an African-American father. With his father serving in the United States Army at the time, Williams moved regularly during spells in Germany and the United States. In 2000, when Williams was seven years old, the family eventually settled in Tramore, County Waterford in Ireland.[5][6] It was here where he began playing football, and was later spotted playing for Tramore Athletic and Waterford. At the age of 15, he was offered a contract by Manchester United, however he decided to join Aston Villa instead in January 2009, due to their success in developing academy players into first team players.[5]

## Club career

[edit]

### Aston Villa

[edit]

Following a number of injuries to Alex McLeish's first team squad in the latter stages of the 2011–12 season, the versatile defender was brought in to train with the first team on a number of occasions. His first competitive involvement with the first team saw him earn a place on the bench for the defeats to Arsenal and Chelsea, and the draw with Liverpool.[citation needed]

Williams made his first-team debut under Paul Lambert, as a substitute in Villa's 1–1 Premier League draw against Queens Park Rangers on 1 December 2012.[7]

### Bristol City

[edit]

After struggling to make it into the Aston Villa first team, Williams signed for Bristol City, newly relegated to League One, on a three-year contract on 24 June 2013.[7] He made his debut in a 2–0 away win at Gillingham in the League Cup on 6 August,[8] and continued to solidify his place in the line up, starting almost every league match for City that season. His first professional goal came on 15 February 2014, in a 2–2 draw at home to Tranmere Rovers.[8]

Bristol City started the 2014–15 League One season with a 16-match unbeaten run,[9] a club record,[citation needed] and the second longest unbeaten run in the country at the time, only behind Chelsea.[9] Williams was a key fixture in this run, starting every match. His first goal of the season came in this run, in a 3–2 home win over Chesterfield on 11 October, and his second was scored in a Football League Trophy win over Coventry City in early December.[10] Williams was sent off for the first time in his career in a 1–0 away defeat at the hands of Crewe Alexandra, forcing him to miss the following match.[10] Williams played in the Football League Trophy final at Wembley Stadium on 22 March 2015, a match in which City beat Walsall 2–0, becoming the only side to have won the competition three times.[11] He was a regular in the City side that confirmed promotion to the Championship with three matches of the season still to go.[12]

### Blackburn Rovers

[edit]

On 26 August 2016, Williams joined Championship club Blackburn Rovers on a three-year contract.[13] He scored his first goal for the club in a 1–1 draw against Cardiff City where he found the equaliser in the 90th minute of the match.[14] In his first season with the club, he managed to make 39 appearances in the league and three in the FA Cup. He was also named as the Player of the Season.[15]

Derrick Williams during New York Red Bulls vs Atlanta United on May 31 2025

### LA Galaxy

[edit]

On 4 March 2021, Williams moved to the United States and joined Major League Soccer club LA Galaxy after his contract with Blackburn Rovers was cancelled by mutual consent.[16][17]

### D.C. United

[edit]

On 10 November 2022, Williams was traded to D.C. United in exchange for $180,000 in General Allocation Money.[18]

### Atlanta United

[edit]

On 22 December 2023, Williams was selected by Atlanta United in the second stage of the MLS Re-Entry Draft.[19] On 12 January 2024, Atlanta announced that it had signed Williams on a two-year deal with an option for a third.[20]

## International career

[edit]

Williams was eligible to play for Germany, the United States, and the Republic of Ireland. In February 2011, he made his debut for the Republic of Ireland U19 team against Croatia U19, before going onto play in three of Ireland's four fixtures of the UEFA European Under-19 Championship later that year. On 10 September 2012, Williams made his debut for the Republic of Ireland U21 team, in a 4–2 victory over Italy U21.[21] On 28 May 2018, he made his full senior international debut for the Republic of Ireland national football team in a friendly game against France at the Stade De France.[22]

Williams scored his first senior goal in a friendly against New Zealand on Thursday, 14 November 2019[23]

## Career statistics

[edit]

### Club

[edit]

As of match played 6 April 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition  Club  | Season  | League  | National cup  | League cup | Other  | Total

|
|
|
|
|
|

Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals
Aston Villa | 2011–12[24] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0
2012–13[25] | Premier League  | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0
Total  | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0
Bristol City | 2013–14[8] | League One | 43 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 1
2014–15[10] | League One  | 44 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6[a] | 1 | 55 | 3
2015–16[26] | Championship | 24 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 26 | 1
2016–17[27] | Championship  | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | — | 2 | 0
Total  | 111 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 131 | 5
Blackburn Rovers | 2016–17[27] | Championship  | 39 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 42 | 1
2017–18[28] | League One  | 45 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 51 | 1
2018–19[29] | Championship  | 27 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 0
2019–20[30] | Championship  | 17 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 3
2020–21[31] | Championship  | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1
Total  | 138 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 152 | 6
LA Galaxy | 2021 | MLS | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0
2022[32] | MLS  | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 30 | 0
Total  | 47 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 51 | 0
D.C. United | 2023[33] | MLS  | 24 | 1 | — | — | — | 24 | 1
Atlanta United | 2024[34] | MLS  | 11 | 1 | — | — | — | 11 | 1
Career total  | 347 | 12 | 17 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 385 | 13

1. ^ Appearances in Football League Trophy
2. ^ Appearance in EFL Trophy

### International

[edit]

As of match played 14 October 2020[35]
Appearances and goals by national team and year  National team | Year | Apps | Goals

|
|
|

Republic of Ireland | 2018 | 1 | 0
2019 | 2 | 1
Total | 3 | 1

Scores and results list the Republic of Ireland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Williams goal.
List of international goals scored by Derrick Williams[35] No.  | Date  | Venue  | Opponent  | Score  | Result  | Competition

|
|
|
|
|
|

1 | 14 November 2019 | Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland |  New Zealand | 1–1 | 3–1 | Friendly

## Honours

[edit]

Bristol City

* Football League One: 2014–15[36]
* Football League Trophy: 2014–15[11]

Blackburn Rovers

* EFL League One runner-up: 2017–18[37]

Individual

* Blackburn Rovers Player of the Season: 2016–17[15]

## See also

[edit]

* List of Republic of Ireland international footballers born outside the Republic of Ireland
* Military brat (U.S. subculture)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Derrick Williams". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
2. ^ "D. Williams". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
3. ^ "Derrick Williams". LA Galaxy. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
4. ^ "Derrick Williams: Player details". worldfootball.com. Archived from the original on 1 September 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
5. ^ a b Fallon, John (20 July 2011). "Williams out to match Dunne's Euro exploits". Irish Independent. Dublin. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
6. ^ "17 Questions with Derrick Williams | Atlanta United FC". atlutd. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
7. ^ a b "Derrick Williams: Bristol City sign Aston Villa defender". BBC Sport. 24 June 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
8. ^ a b c "Games played by Derrick Williams in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
9. ^ a b Kempson, Russell (15 November 2014). "Swindon's Michael Smith ends 10-man Bristol City's unbeaten run". The Observer. London. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
10. ^ a b c "Games played by Derrick Williams in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
11. ^ a b Chapman, Caroline (22 March 2015). "Bristol City 2–0 Walsall". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
12. ^ Mitchell, Brendon (15 April 2015). "Marlon Pack: Bristol City promotion 'hard to take in'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
13. ^ "Rovers complete double deal!". Blackburn Rovers F.C. 26 August 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
14. ^ Sharpe, Rich (10 March 2016). ""I wanted to make up for their goal" – Derrick Williams on atoning for earlier error with first Blackburn Rovers goal". Lancashire Telegraph. Blackburn. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
15. ^ a b Sharpe, Rich (29 April 2017). "Derrick Williams named Blackburn Rovers player of the season for 2016/17". Lancashire Telegraph. Blackburn. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
16. ^ "LA Galaxy sign defender Derrick Williams". LA Galaxy. 4 March 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
17. ^ "Derrick departs for Stateside switch". Blackburn Rovers FC. 4 March 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
18. ^ "D.C. United Acquire 29-Year-Old Defender and Ireland International Derrick Williams from Los Angeles Galaxy | DC United". dcunited.
19. ^ "Atlanta United select Derrick Williams in Re-Entry Draft". mlssoccer.
20. ^ "Atlanta United finalizes deal with Derrick Williams". atlutd.
21. ^ "Irish U21 Williams seeking further recognition". BreakingNews.ie. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
22. ^ "Derrick Williams puts in assured display on Ireland debut". Lancashire Telegraph. 28 May 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
23. ^ "Three new goalscorers as Ireland beat New Zealand". fai.ie. 14 November 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
24. ^ "Games played by Derrick Williams in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
25. ^ "Games played by Derrick Williams in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
26. ^ "Games played by Derrick Williams in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
27. ^ a b "Games played by Derrick Williams in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
28. ^ "Games played by Derrick Williams in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
29. ^ "Games played by Derrick Williams in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
30. ^ "Games played by Derrick Williams in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
31. ^ "Games played by Derrick Williams in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
32. ^ "Games played by Derrick Williams in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
33. ^ "Games played by Derrick Williams in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
34. ^ "Games played by Derrick Williams in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
35. ^ a b "Derrick Williams". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
36. ^ Anderson, John, ed. (2015). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2015–2016. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 84–85\. ISBN 978-1-4722-2416-3.
37. ^ Anderson, John, ed. (2018). Football Yearbook 2018–2019. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 54–55\. ISBN 978-1-4722-6106-9.

## External links

[edit]

* Derrick Williams profile at the Blackburn Rovers F.C. website
* Derrick Williams profile at the Football Association of Ireland website
* Derrick Williams at Soccerbase

* v
* t
* e

Atlanta United FC – current squad

* 1 Guzan
* 2 Hernández
* 3 Williams
* 4 Mihaj
* 5 Gregersen
* 8 Muyumba
* 9 Lobzhanidze
* 10 Almirón
* 11 Lennon
* 14 Thiaré
* 18 Amador
* 19 Latte Lath
* 20 Brennan
* 21 Morales
* 22 Cohen
* 23 Torres
* 24 Cobb
* 27 Gordon
* 28 Reilly
* 30 Togashi
* 35 Fortune
* 42 Hibbert
* 43 Klich
* 44 Abram
* 47 Edwards
* 50 Chong-Qui
* 59 Miranchuk
* 70 Mosquera
* 99 Slisz

* Head Coach: Deila
* Assistant Coach: Lawrey
* Assistant Coach: Miller
* Assistant Coach: Robinson
* Goalkeeping Coach: Parish

* v
* t
* e

Blackburn Rovers F.C. Player of the Year

* 1981: Speight
* 1982: Rathbone
* 1983: Fazackerley
* 1984: Garner
* 1985: Gennoe
* 1986: Barker
* 1987: Mail
* 1988: Hendry
* 1989: Gayle
* 1990: Sellars
* 1991: Moran
* 1992: Speedie
* 1993: Hendry
* 1994: Batty
* 1995: Shearer
* 1996: Shearer
* 1997: Hendry
* 1998: Sutton
* 1999: Filan
* 2000: Duff
* 2001: Jansen
* 2002: Duff
* 2003: Friedel
* 2004: Tugay
* 2005: Todd
* 2006: Bellamy
* 2007: Bentley
* 2008: Santa Cruz
* 2009: Warnock
* 2010: Nzonzi
* 2011: Robinson
* 2012: Yakubu
* 2013: Rhodes
* 2014: Cairney
* 2015: Olsson
* 2016: Hanley
* 2017: Williams
* 2018: Dack
* 2019: Graham
* 2020: Armstrong
* 2021: Kaminski
* 2022: van Hecke
* 2023: Hyam
* 2024: Szmodics
* 2025: Tronstad

*[Apps]: League appearances
*[Gls]: League goals
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Torres]: Adyn Torres
*[Gordon]: Ashton Gordon
*[Lawrey]: Matt Lawrey