Perth Glory have announced the signing of 28-year-old attacking midfielder Ryan Williams on a three-year contract, the one-time Socceroo joining his boyhood club on a transfer from English League One outfit Oxford United.
Williams played his junior football at ECU Joondalup before signing for English side Portsmouth in 2010, going on to play for clubs including Fulham, Portsmouth, Barnsley, Rotherham United and Oxford.
Williams amassed nearly 250 appearances across the English Championship, League One and League Two over his 11-year European stint, but returns home to follow the lead of twin brother Aryn and older brother Rhys who have both represented the club in prior seasons.
“I’m really looking forward to coming home after a long time away and it’s exciting for me to be able to put on a shirt for a club from my hometown,” Williams told club media after signing the three-year deal.
“My family have never been able to come and watch me play every week, so that’s another thing I’m excited about.
“It means a lot to me to be able to play for Perth as I grew up watching them and followed them throughout my career; it’s going to be special.”
Williams added: “(Head coach Ruben Zadkovich) is a really exciting manager who is young and hungry and has the desire and the ideas.
“It’s about implementing those, which is something hopefully I can help him do and we can push the club forward.”
Williams’ UK stint began with two years spent at Porstmouth, before signing for Fulham. The London club loaned Williams to Gillingham, Barnsley and Oxford before he sealed a permanent move to Barnsley. He then went on to sign for Rotherham United, securing promotion to the Championship via the 2018 League One play-off final at Wembley Stadium.
It was the first of two trips to Wembley in quick succession for Williams; in 2019, returning to Portsmouth, Williams started in the final of the EFL Trophy, falling to Salford City.
Williams has one senior Socceroos appearance to his name, earned again South Korea in 2019.
Glory head coach Zadkovich says it’s exciting to have such a highly regarded player joining the club.
“We’re very excited to have Ryan joining the club,” he said.
“He’s a top professional and a top character who is versatile, very dynamic and extremely energetic in all aspects of his game.
“Ryan possesses the innate ability to combine with those around him, has very good awareness and is very positive.
“His character references are very strong, he comes to us highly regarded and his focus and ambition really align with myself and the club.
“We believe he has the potential to make a solid impact on this league, but more importantly a big impact on our club’s success.”
Upon his Oxford departure, fans of the English club expressed their best wishes to the Australian midfielder who left a visible impression on the club.
“Gutted, class player and a class bloke too,” wrote one Oxford fan. Another wished the “top baller” all the best, with some fans even hoping for a friendly between the two sides to mark the announcement.
