The former Atlanta United defender's retirement closed a 16-year career that moved through England, MLS and the Republic of Ireland national team

Derrick Williams Has Hung Up the Boots

Derrick Williams was not in Atlanta long, but his short stay with the Five Stripes belonged to a much longer professional career

VIPs of Atlanta Soccer · Aug 4, 2026 · 4 min read

( Photo by Atlanta United )

Derrick Williams announced his retirement from professional soccer on June 22, ending a 16-year career that began at Aston Villa, grew through long spells with Bristol City and Blackburn Rovers, carried him to MLS with LA Galaxy, D.C. United and Atlanta United, and closed back in England with Reading FC.

Atlanta United entered the story late. Williams arrived in January 2024, played a season and a half with the Five Stripes, and still gave the club one of its steadier defensive stretches during a difficult period.

Williams arrived in January 2024 after Atlanta selected his MLS rights with the No. 1 pick in Stage Two of the 2023 MLS Re-Entry Draft. He was a veteran center back by then, with three MLS seasons behind him and more than a decade of experience in England.

At the time, Carlos Bocanegra called him a tough, no-nonsense defender. He was left-footed, experienced, physical and familiar with the demands of MLS.

Atlanta used Williams as a starter almost immediately. In 2024, he started 26 regular-season matches, appeared 27 times and played 2,265 MLS minutes. He also started all five of Atlanta’s playoff matches. By the time the club transferred him to Reading FC in August 2025, Williams had started 48 of his 51 appearances in all competitions for Atlanta, with two goals and two assists.

His most memorable Atlanta moment came in Game 2 of the 2024 Round One playoff series against Inter Miami. Atlanta entered the night facing elimination. Williams started at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, scored his first MLS playoff goal and helped send the series back to Fort Lauderdale.

Before The Five Stripes

He was born in Hamburg, Germany, to an Irish mother and American father, and his family settled in Tramore, County Waterford, Ireland when he was seven. He was a graduate of AFC Tramore Academy at Graun Park, playing Kennedy Cup football for the Waterford Schoolboy League. At 15, Williams was offered a contract with Manchester United, but he chose Aston Villa and moved to England in January 2009.

Williams made his Premier League debut with Aston Villa under Paul Lambert on December 1, 2012, coming on as a substitute in a 1-1 draw with Queens Park Rangers. It was his only Premier League appearance for the club. By the following summer, he had turned down a new deal as he was looking for first-team minutes.

He joined Bristol City, which had just been relegated to League One. He played regularly in his first season, then started 44 league matches in 2014-15 as Bristol City won League One and returned to the Championship. The club also won the Football League Trophy that season.

Williams’ time with Bristol City ended in August 2016, when Blackburn Rovers signed him to a three-year deal. The move brought a difficult year as Blackburn Rovers were relegated to League One at the end of his first season. Williams stayed, and the club came back up a year later after finishing second in League One.

Williams’ rise with Blackburn Rovers also brought him into the Republic of Ireland senior team. He made his debut on May 28, 2018, starting against France at the Stade de France. In total, he finished with three senior caps for Ireland. His final appearance came in November 2019, when he scored in a 3-1 friendly win over New Zealand.

Williams remained with Blackburn Rovers until 2021. His contract was terminated by mutual consent with only months left on the deal, opening the door for a move abroad. The move took him out of England for the first time as a professional. Williams later told The Irish Sun the timing came after years in League One and the Championship.

Williams played regularly at The Galaxy. Through two seasons with the club, he made 46 starts, and had four assists. After the 2022 season, D.C. United traded for him as part of an effort to strengthen its back line.

Williams started 21 of his 24 appearances for D.C. United in 2023 and scored his first MLS goal in a 3-0 win over FC Cincinnati. D.C. missed the playoffs, and Williams’ contract expired at the end of the season. Atlanta acquired him through the MLS Re-Entry Draft.

The move also carried a personal connection. Williams’ father lived in Atlanta, and he had spent summers visiting the United States before he ever moved to MLS.

After Atlanta

Atlanta transferred Williams to Reading FC in August 2025, sending him back to English soccer after four seasons in MLS.

Reading FC manager Noel Hunt focused on Williams’ experience.

He's an experienced professional with a great pedigree, great experience at a higher level, knows what it takes to get promoted from this level as he's done it twice, and has played in another country. Noel Hunt, Reading FC Manager - BBC Sport

Williams played one final season with Reading FC. He started 23 of his 24 League One appearances in 2025-26, but injuries interrupted parts of the year. He announced his retirement at the end of the season.