1. Overview
Rhys Williams (born 3 February 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Morecambe, on loan from Liverpool. He came through the academy at Liverpool, winning the FA Youth Cup in 2019. Williams had a breakthrough season with Liverpool's first team during the 2020-21 campaign, making 19 appearances, including nine Premier League and six UEFA Champions League games, amidst a significant defensive injury crisis at the club. His career has also seen him undertake several loan spells to various clubs, including Kidderminster Harriers, Swansea City, Blackpool, Aberdeen, Port Vale, and Morecambe, aimed at gaining crucial first-team experience.
2. Early life
Rhys Williams was born on 3 February 2001 in Preston, Lancashire, England.
3. Club career
Williams' professional journey began within Liverpool's youth system, where he honed his skills before embarking on several loan spells to gain crucial first-team experience. His notable period with Liverpool's senior squad in the 2020-21 season saw him play a significant role due to extensive defensive injuries, showcasing his potential on both domestic and European stages.
3.1. Liverpool Academy and early loans
Williams joined Liverpool's academy at the age of ten, developing through their youth ranks. In 2019, he was part of the Liverpool youth team that won the FA Youth Cup, defeating Manchester City in a penalty shoot-out. Following his youth success, Williams signed a professional contract with Liverpool in 2019.
On 31 July 2019, Williams embarked on his first senior loan spell, joining Kidderminster Harriers on a half-season deal, which was later extended to cover the entire 2019-20 season. This move was facilitated by connections between Kidderminster's boss, John Pemberton, and Liverpool's assistant academy director. During his time at Kidderminster, Williams made 26 appearances in the National League North. He scored his first senior goal on 10 August in a 3-0 away victory against Bradford (Park Avenue), netting with a header. Kidderminster finished the season in 16th place, notably boasting a strong defensive record, conceding only four more goals than second-placed Kings Lynn Town. Russell Penn, the Harriers manager, commented on Williams' development, noting his transformation from a "six-foot-five baby face" technical player into a more resilient one who gained experience, even enduring a broken nose, and learned the significance of playing alongside teammates who relied on their monthly earnings.
3.2. Breakthrough at Liverpool (2020-21 season)
In September 2020, Williams signed a new long-term contract with Liverpool, signaling the club's faith in his potential. He made his first-team debut for the club in the EFL Cup on 24 September 2020, starting alongside Virgil van Dijk in central defence against Lincoln City. He played the full 120 minutes in the following round against Arsenal.
Williams made his UEFA Champions League debut on 21 October, coming on as a 90th-minute substitute against AFC Ajax. His second Champions League appearance came the following week against FC Midtjylland, where he was introduced in the 30th minute due to an injury to Fabinho. Liverpool secured a 2-0 victory, and manager Jürgen Klopp praised Williams' performance, stating, "He did well, everything looks promising." On 4 November, Williams played the full ninety minutes in a Champions League match away at Atalanta, contributing to a dominant 5-0 win and keeping a clean sheet. He continued to feature prominently in the Champions League, playing in all six group stage matches.
On 16 December, Williams made his Premier League debut, starting in a crucial 2-1 victory against Tottenham Hotspur. As Liverpool faced a significant defensive injury crisis, which sidelined their three first-choice centre-backs, Williams, alongside Nat Phillips, became a vital part of the team's defense. On 8 May, he again partnered Phillips in a 2-0 win over Southampton. Williams played a crucial role in the final five games of the 2020-21 season, all of which were victories, helping Liverpool finish third in the league. Across the campaign, he made a total of 19 appearances for the club.
3.3. Subsequent loan spells
Williams' career progression involved further loan spells to gain more experience and playing time.
On 31 August 2021, after signing another new contract with Liverpool, Williams joined Swansea City on a loan deal intended to last the entire 2021-22 season. During his time at Swansea, he allegedly suffered racist abuse during a match against Luton Town in September. Despite the loan, Williams found it difficult to secure a regular starting spot, competing with established defenders Kyle Naughton, Ryan Bennett, and Ryan Manning. Swansea manager Russell Martin acknowledged that Liverpool would likely be "not overly happy" with his limited involvement, but emphasized the need to prioritize the Swansea team's needs. Williams ultimately played only five Championship games, and Liverpool decided to recall him on 20 January 2022. Upon his return, Williams posted on Instagram, expressing his disappointment that the loan did not go as planned but cherishing his time as a "Swan."
On 19 July 2022, Williams returned to the Championship on loan, joining Blackpool for the duration of the 2022-23 campaign. He made his debut for the club on 29 July in a 1-0 victory over Reading at Bloomfield Road. Williams began the season in strong form, but after making 17 appearances for the "Seasiders," he lost his place in the team. Following the sacking of Blackpool manager Michael Appleton, Williams was recalled to Liverpool on 23 January 2023.
On 23 June 2023, Williams signed a season-long loan deal with Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership. However, his loan spell at Pittodrie was cut short, and he was recalled to Liverpool on 3 January 2024, having not made a single league appearance for the "Dons." Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp later commented that Williams would have expected to play "from the first to the last second" in Scotland. Aberdeen manager Barry Robson explained that Williams "came up injured and has struggled" during his time at the club.
Williams then moved to League One club Port Vale on loan until the end of the 2023-24 season, joining them on 16 January 2024. Despite the move, he did not feature in any matchday squad and was recalled to Liverpool on 1 February for rehabilitation due to an injury.
On 20 August 2024, Williams joined League Two club Morecambe on loan until January 2025. He expressed his desire for manager Derek Adams to be able to trust him and stated he was "delighted" at the opportunity to play first-team football. His loan was subsequently extended on 2 January 2025, to run until the end of the 2024-25 season.
4. International career
Rhys Williams has represented England at various youth levels. He played for the England U18 team between March and May 2019, making 4 appearances. He was then called up to the England U-19 squad for the International Marbella Cup in October 2019, where he made 2 appearances. On 5 October 2020, Williams received his first call-up to the England U-21 squad. He made his debut for the U21s on 7 October 2020 in a 3-3 draw against Andorra, and has made 2 appearances for the team.
5. Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Liverpool | 2019-20 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020-21 | Premier League | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | - | 19 | 0 | ||
| Total | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | ||
| Kidderminster Harriers (loan) | 2019-20 | National League North | 26 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 26 | 1 | ||||
| Swansea City (loan) | 2021-22 | Championship | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 7 | 0 | ||
| Blackpool (loan) | 2022-23 | Championship | 17 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 17 | 0 | ||||
| Aberdeen (loan) | 2023-24 | Scottish Premiership | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Aberdeen U20 (loan) | 2023-24 | |||||||||||||
| - | - | - | - | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||||
| Port Vale (loan) | 2023-24 | League One | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Morecambe (loan) | 2024-25 | League Two | 27 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | 2 | 0 | 32 | 2 | |
| Career total | 84 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 103 | 3 | ||
6. Honours
Liverpool Academy
- FA Youth Cup: 2018-19