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Rhys Williams (born 3 February 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL League Two club Morecambe, on loan from Premier League club Liverpool.

Williams came through the Academy at Liverpool, winning the FA Youth Cup in 2019. He spent the 2019–20 season on loan at Kidderminster Harriers. He made his first-team debut for Liverpool in September 2020 and made 19 appearances in the 2020–21 campaign, including nine Premier League and six UEFA Champions League games. He spent the first half of the 2021–22 season on loan at Swansea City and then was loaned to Blackpool for the first half of the 2022–23 season. He spent the first half of the 2023–24 campaign on loan at Aberdeen but did not play a league game in Scotland before being loaned out to Port Vale, where he again did not feature. He started the 2024–25 season on loan at Morecambe.

Early life

Rhys Williams was born on 3 February 2001 in Preston, Lancashire.

Club career

Liverpool

Williams joined Liverpool's academy aged ten and won the FA Youth Cup with their youth team in 2019 when they defeated Manchester City in a penalty shoot-out. On 31 July 2019, he joined Kidderminster Harriers on a half-season loan. The loan came about due to connections between Harriers boss John Pemberton and Liverpool's assistant academy director. The deal was extended to cover the entire season and he went on to make 26 National League North appearances for the club in the 2019–20 campaign, scoring his first goal in senior football with a header in a 3–0 win at Bradford (Park Avenue) on 10 August. Kidderminster finished in 16th place, but had conceded only four more goals than second-placed Kings Lynn Town.

"The one that arrived was a young academy graduate, six-foot-five baby face, obviously technically very good. The player that left, left with a broken nose, with experience of being sent off and scoring goals, and learning that it really mattered playing with players who at this level live month to month, rent by rent."

— Harriers manager Russell Penn, reflecting on Williams's loan spell at his club.

In September 2020, Williams signed a long-term contract with Liverpool. He made his first-team debut for the club in the EFL Cup on 24 September, against Lincoln City, partnering Virgil van Dijk in central defence. On 21 October, Williams came on as a 90th-minute substitute against AFC Ajax in the UEFA Champions League. He made his second Champions League appearance the following week, where he came on as a 30th-minute substitute against FC Midtjylland after an injury to Fabinho. Liverpool went on to win 2–0, with Jürgen Klopp praising his performance after the game, saying to the press, "He did well, everything looks promising." On 4 November, Williams played the full ninety minutes in a Champions League tie at Atalanta, keeping a clean sheet in a 5–0 win. On 16 December, he made his Premier League debut with a start in a 2–1 win against Tottenham Hotspur. On 8 May, he slotted back alongside Nat Phillips in a 2–0 win over Southampton. Williams played each of the last five games of the 2020–21 season, all five victories, with three clean sheets, as Liverpool finished third; he played a total of 19 games throughout the campaign as the club suffered a defensive crisis that left the three first-choice centre-backs sidelined.

On 31 August 2021, Williams signed a new contract with Liverpool and joined Swansea City on a loan deal to last the 2021–22 season. He allegedly suffered racist abuse during a match at Luton Town in September. Williams proved unable to dislodge Kyle Naughton, Ryan Bennett and Ryan Manning in Swansea's back three, causing manager Russell Martin to admit that "I don't think they'll be overly happy he's not involved, but we have to what's right for our football team and our club". Williams played just five Championship games and Liverpool recalled him on 20 January. He wrote on Instagram: "Gutted it didn't go to plan but it's been a pleasure to be a Swan for the time I was given."

Williams returned to the Championship on loan at Blackpool on 19 July 2022, on a deal due to the run for the whole of the 2022–23 campaign. He made his debut for the club in a 1–0 victory over Reading at Bloomfield Road on 29 July. He started the season in good form. After 17 appearances for the Seasiders, Williams was recalled to Liverpool on 23 January after he lost his place in the team and manager Michael Appleton was sacked.

On 23 June 2023, Williams joined Aberdeen on a season-long loan. His loan at Pittodrie was cut short as he was recalled back to Liverpool on 3 January, having not made a league appearance for the Dons. Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp said that Williams would have expected to play "from the first to the last second" in the Scottish Premiership. Aberdeen manager Barry Robson explained that "Rhys came up injured and has struggled". On 16 January 2024, he joined League One club Port Vale on loan until the end of the 2023–24 season. However, he did not make a matchday squad. He was recalled to Liverpool on 1 February for rehabilitation due to an injury.

On 20 August 2024, he joined League Two club Morecambe on loan until January 2025. He said that he wanted manager Derek Adams to be able to trust him and was "delighted" at the chance to play first-team football.

International career

Williams played for the England U18 team between March and May 2019. He was called up for the England U-19 team for the International Marbella Cup in October 2019. On 5 October 2020, Williams received his first call-up to the England U-21 squad, and made his debut during a 3–3 draw against Andorra on 7 October 2020.

Career statistics

As of match played 21 December 2024

1. Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
2. Appearance(s) in Scottish Challenge Cup
3. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

Honours

Liverpool Academy

• FA Youth Cup: 2018–19

References

1. "2020/21 Premier League squads confirmed". Premier League. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
2. ^ "Rhys Williams: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
3. "Rhys Williams". Liverpool F.C. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
4. ^ "Rhys Williams: Profile". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
5. Carroll, Sam (19 April 2020). "'It's interesting I've been noticed' – Loan star on Liverpool plan and international recognition". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
6. Stewart, Charlie (7 June 2022). "Rhys Williams: 5 Things to Know About the Liverpool Youngster". OrthoMedia. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
7. Carroll, James (31 July 2019). "Rhys Williams joins Kidderminster on loan". Liverpool F.C. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
8. Jones, Neil (31 October 2020). "Liverpool's Van Dijk replacement? How Rhys Williams went from non-league to Champions League | Goal.com UK". www.goal.com. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
9. Lusby, Jack (13 January 2020). "Liverpool's 18-year-old defensive standout extends loan". This Is Anfield. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
10. ^ Rhys Williams at Soccerway
11. Paddock, Matty (10 August 2019). "Recap: Avenue 0-3 Reds". harriers.co.uk. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
12. Carroll, Sam (3 November 2020). "Rhys Williams - Liverpool's next star defender compared with Van Dijk". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
13. Hincks, Michael. "From 'baby face' to broken nose - how Kidderminster loan prepared Williams for Liverpool battle". Retrieved 16 January 2024.
14. "Rhys Williams signs new Liverpool contract". FourFourTwo. September 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
15. Verrall, John (24 September 2020). "Report: 19-year-old to make Liverpool debut tonight, another teenager will also start". HITC. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
16. Carroll, Sam (24 September 2020). "Rhys Williams – Liverpool's next star defender compared with Van Dijk". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
17. Unwin, Will (24 September 2020). "Lincoln City v Liverpool and more: Carabao Cup third round – live!". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
18. Sanders, Emma (21 October 2020). "Own goal gives injury-hit Reds win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
19. Shaw, Chris (27 October 2020). "Liverpool 2-0 Midtjylland: Jürgen Klopp's reaction". Liverpool FC. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
20. McNulty, Phil (16 December 2020). "Liverpool 2–1 Tottenham: Roberto Firmino's late winner sends Reds clear of Spurs at top". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
21. "Liverpool 2–0 Southampton: Klopp's side close on top four with Anfield win". BBC Sport. 8 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
22. "Rhys Williams 2020-2021 Match Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
23. Dicken, Alex (31 January 2021). "The story behind Rhys Williams' rapid rise from Aggborough to Anfield". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
24. "Swansea sign Liverpool's Williams on loan". BBC Sport. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
25. Rooney, Will (21 September 2021). "Rhys Williams alleged racial abuse: what happened to the Liverpool defender as Swansea manager gives update". Liverpool World. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
26. Mitchelmore, Ian (9 November 2021). "Russell Martin explains exactly what's going on with Liverpool's Rhys Williams". Wales Online. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
27. "Rhys Williams recalled from Swansea City loan spell | Swansea". www.swanseacity.com. 20 January 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
28. Davies, Mathew (20 January 2022). "Liverpool's Rhys Williams signs off Swansea City stint with message to fans". Wales Online. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
29. "Rhys Williams Joins The Seasiders". Blackpool F.C. 19 July 2022. Archived from the original on 19 July 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
30. "Blackpool edge past Reading through Connolly goal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
31. Scrafton, Matt (28 August 2022). "Michael Appleton explains why Liverpool loanee Rhys Williams was brought off during Blackpool's draw against Bristol City". The Gazette. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
32. "Rhys Williams returns to Reds from Blackpool loan". Liverpool FC. 23 January 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
33. Lusby, Jack (28 June 2023). "LFC confirm another loan deal as centre-back heads to Scotland". This Is Anfield. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
34. "Aberdeen re-sign Graeme Shinnie as Liverpool's Rhys Williams joins on loan". BBC Sport. 28 June 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
35. Price, Glenn (January 2024). "Rhys Williams returns to Liverpool from Aberdeen loan - Liverpool FC". www.liverpoolfc.com. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
36. Williams, Sam (5 January 2024). "Jürgen Klopp discusses futures of Owen Beck, Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams after loan recalls". Liverpool F.C. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
37. Wallace, Sean (11 December 2023). "Aberdeen boss Barry Robson to make loan deal calls on Or Dadia and Rhys Williams". Press and Journal. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
38. "Rhys Williams is a Valiant". Port Vale F.C. 16 January 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
39. "Rhys Williams returns to Liverpool from Port Vale - Liverpool FC". Liverpool FC. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
40. "Rhys Williams: Morecambe sign Liverpool defender on loan". BBC Sport. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
41. Browne, Gavin (20 August 2024). "Morecambe bring in Liverpool's former Blackpool, Swansea City, Aberdeen and Port Vale loanee". Lancaster Guardian. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
42. "England MU19s squad selected for games with France and Belgium in Spain this October". www.thefa.com. 4 October 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
43. "Brandon Williams, Rhys Williams and Sam Surridge join MU21s as four withdraw". www.thefa.com. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
44. "Injury-time equaliser denies Young Lions three points in Andorra". thefa.com. 7 October 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
45. "Games played by Rhys Williams in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
46. "Games played by Rhys Williams in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
47. "Games played by Rhys Williams in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
48. "Games played by Rhys Williams in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
49. ^ "Games played by Rhys Williams in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
50. "Games played by Rhys Williams in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
51. "Liverpool crowned FA Youth Cup winners after beating Manchester City on penalties". The Daily Telegraph. 25 April 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2020.

External links

• Profile at the Liverpool F.C. website
• Rhys Williams – UEFA competition record (archive) 

• 2001 births
• Living people
• Footballers from Preston, Lancashire
• Black British sportsmen
• English men's footballers
• Men's association football defenders
• Liverpool F.C. players
• Kidderminster Harriers F.C. players
• Swansea City A.F.C. players
• Blackpool F.C. players
• Aberdeen F.C. players
• Port Vale F.C. players
• Morecambe F.C. players
• National League (English football) players
• Premier League players
• English Football League players
• England men's youth international footballers
• England men's under-21 international footballers
• 21st-century English sportsmen