Dylan Williams with Derby County boss Wayne Rooney
Dylan Williams with Wayne Rooney
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Former Derby County defender Dylan Williams has joined Motherwell from Burton Albion and said it was "an easy decision" to join the Scottish Premier League side.
Williams has signed a two-year contract, with the club holding the option of a further year and he moves for an undisclosed fee.
The defender was a standout performer for Burton last season in League One but will now be aiming to deliver success north of the border with Motherwell in the qualifying rounds of the Europa Conference League.
Manager Alfred Johansson said: "I want to welcome Dylan to the club. A humble young man, Dylan has been in first-team environments since he broke into the Derby County team at a young age. He is an incredibly mature man, and we’ve had some excellent discussions about what we want Dylan to do in our system.
“He is an attack-minded and exciting defender, but most importantly, he works incredibly hard for his teammates. It’s great to get Dylan into the club as we look ahead to the competitive football starting very soon.”
Williams came through the Academy system at Wolverhampton Wanderers but sealed a move to Derby County in 2019.
He made his first professional appearance in the FA Cup for Derby in a 2-0 defeat to Chorley at the start of 2021, aged just 17.
He went on to play eight Championship matches later that year under Wayne Rooney, catching the eye of some of the biggest clubs in the country. Chelsea came in for Williams in 2022 and featured in first-team training under current England boss Thomas Tuchel.
Having featured heavily for Chelsea’s Under 23s and 21s, Williams embarked on a loan at Burton Albion in June 2024 and eventually made the switch permanent.
His performances caught the eye last season which prompted Motherwell to make their move and he is eligible for selection for the UEFA Conference League match against Havnar Bóltfelag.
“I’ve spoken to a number of people about Motherwell,” Williams said.
“Everyone has had positive things to say about the club. The initial discussions with the manager were encouraging, and he’s been so clear on what he wants me to do. Key messaging and a clear desire to bring me to the club meant it was an easy decision to come here.
“I’m looking forward to the season ahead.”
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