Atlanta United signed Derrick Williams through the 2025 season with an option for 2026 on Jan. 12, 2024. Atlanta originally selected the rights to Williams with the No. 1 pick in Stage Two of the 2023 MLS Re-Entry Draft held on Dec. 21. The center back became a mainstay on the backline during his first season in Atlanta, starting 31 of his 32 appearances in the regular season and MLS Cup Playoffs. He scored his first playoff goal against Inter Miami CF in Game 2 of Round One, a 2-1 win at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Williams spent the previous three seasons in MLS with LA Galaxy and D.C. United after spending 11 seasons in England. The center back debuted in the Premier League in 2012 with Aston Villa before signing with Bristol City in League One the following year. He featured regularly for Bristol City before helping them earn promotion to the Championship during the 2014-15 season. He then joined Blackburn Rovers in the Championship in 2016, making 152 total appearances for the club in all. Born in Hamburg, Germany, Williams holds an American passport and will not occupy an International Roster spot.
Williams made more than 250 combined appearances in the England’s League One and the EFL Championship during his professional career before joining MLS in 2021. In two seasons with LA Galaxy, Williams made 44 starts in 47 appearances. He then joined D.C. United ahead of the 2023 season and made 21 starts with 24 appearances, including scoring his first MLS goal on June 24 against FC Cincinnati.
2024 (Atlanta United): MLS: Recorded career-bests in MLS regular season play with 26 starts, 27 appearances and 2,265 minutes played. Tallied one assist against Montreal on Oct. 2. MLS Cup Playoffs: Started all five matches during Atlanta’s playoff run. Scored his first MLS playoff goal in Game 2 of Round One, a 2-1 win against Inter Miami CF. Leagues Cup: Started and played 90 minutes against D.C. United.
International: Williams spent time in Ireland’s youth circuit before making his full senior debut in 2018 in a friendly against France. He made three total appearances between 2018-19 and scored a goal in a friendly against New Zealand on Nov. 14, 2019.
