The former United academy graduate has endured a nightmare couple of years but is hoping to rebuild his career in East Yorkshire
12:00, 21 Aug 2025Updated 12:13, 21 Aug 2025
Brandon Williams was on the bench for Hull City against Oxford United
Brandon Williams was on the bench for Hull City against Oxford United(Image: Greig Cowie/Shutterstock)
Mention the name Brandon Williams to any Manchester United fan and there will no doubt be a look of disappointment about what might have been for a player they describe as one of their own, who promised so much.
When he burst on the scene at the age of 19 for United against bitter rivals Liverpool in the Premier League under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, it felt like the Mancunian had the world at his feet and an Old Trafford career in the palm of his hands.
Unfortunately, in life, things rarely go according to plan, and for Williams, it's been a traumatic period played out under the gaze of the world's biggest football club. His every move watched, analysed and often criticised.
Two years on since a high-speed car crash that changed his life forever, Williams is back in football. He has been given a lifeline by Hull City in the Championship and a chance to rebuild a promising career and shattered reputation, and it's one he says he's determined to grasp.
Back in May, Williams left Chester Crown Court with a 14-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, a three-year driving ban, and a significant amount of community service to undergo as a lasting memory of a crash that mercifully caused no fatalities or serious injury. The mental scars are a daily reminder of how close tragedy came, and give him the fuel to ensure he does not waste this chance.
In a candid interview with Hull Live exactly 24 months on from that early evening crash in Cheshire, Williams says he's determined to win the trust of those people he's let down in the past, as well as City head coach Sergej Jakirovic and his new teammates at the MKM Stadium, who have welcomed him in.
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"It was just a learning process. Things did happen, but like I said, I've learned from them now," the now 24-year-old exclusively told Hull Live. "I'm growing up now, I'm not a young player no more. I'm becoming one of the senior players in the squad as well, so it's important for me to help the young players as well because I know how difficult it is.
"It was difficult because everyone kind of forgot what I actually achieved; people don't understand that. I didn't even understand at the time what I've actually achieved (playing for Manchester United at such a young age). There are a lot of people in the world who would wish that for their child or something like that. It was upsetting that I've let a lot of people down; it's for me to get things right now. Like, I've always said as well, I don't want any sympathy from anyone.
"It was my actions; I took responsibility for them. I've apologised, and all I can do now is just focus on my football and get things right on the pitch, and I'm sure that people will appreciate that."
Williams was handed a trial by City last month and made his first appearance since playing for Ipswich Town in December 2023 when he came off the bench in the second half of a friendly victory against Sunderland.
The versatile defender then played against Getafe, and was offered a one-year contract by the Tigers with the option of a second before he appeared on the bench for the dramatic 3-2 win over Oxford United last Sunday. It was a moment he longed for, but didn't know if it would arrive again.
Jakirovic has played a major role in offering Williams a deal, and is working with him to try and get him back to the level which saw him burst onto the scene at Old Trafford. He played in both the Champions League and Europa League with his boyhood club before things began to unravel.
Williams admits that he owes a debt of gratitude to City and Jakirovic for taking a chance on him and ultimately believing in him and his ability to be a player the club can trust, and is now looking forward to trying to put those mistakes behind him.
"He (Jakirovic) said to me the first time that I came in that it's a process and he believes in second chances," Williams said of his opening conversation with the Bosnian. "Mistakes happen, people have got to put it right and now it's down to me to give back that trust to him and the players as well. Just to work hard (Jakirovic's message), show what I'm about. He obviously understands that I've been in high-level competitions as well, so he knows the quality's there, and now it's just for me to show that.
"(He told me) to come in and show what I've got. I was on trial, and it was just to show the level that I'm at and to work towards a contract.
"I've been in individual training for the past year now, and the opportunity came up to come in and train with the team, to see what kind of fitness levels I was at. I'm here now and I'm delighted. It was good to be back in a competitive game. I thought the fans were incredible, and I've spoken about how important that is. Our home record needs to be top this year if we want to compete."
Being out of a senior dressing room for so long has been tough for Williams, who joined United at the age of seven, but he says that feeling of being wanted again was huge.
"Even when the opportunity came, I said yes straight away because I wanted to be back in a team environment, back in the changing rooms, back having lunch with the boys and stuff like that, so even on the way here, I was excited. It was a nice feeling," the former England Under-21 man continued.
"It's been good. It's like a proper restart for me. I'm glad to be back. Now it's about working hard and hopefully having a long career with no disappointments.
"It's my mentality now. I'm a different person as well. I've got that hunger, I've got that desire, I've got that determination to get back to the top.
"It was a difficult time, It was down to myself, only I could get myself out of that situation, I felt like, so I'm just glad that I went through it. I've got a lot of things to prove to people that I let down, so it's important for me that I do make up that lost time.
"Yeah (the support of the manager is crucial), definitely. People can have their opinions, but like I said, it was down to me. I've worked in silence for the last year; I didn't need to show what I was doing or anything like that. It was down to me to get myself back right, and when I was right and my mind was right, I was ready to get back involved in football.
"I just feel like with Hull, they came and they gave me that exposure, they gave me that chance to come in and train, so I felt like I did also owe back to the club because of the trust that they did put into me. I'm a high-risk player because I've not played for 20 months, so it's important for me to get back now and to fight for my position."
Williams has spoken before about losing touch with his family, having perhaps fallen victim to those who don't have his best interests at heart, but he is now firmly back around those he calls his rock and is aiming to move on with his life and his career.
"Yeah, they've been my rocks," he said of his parents and wider family. "It would have been difficult without them, so it's important that I have that strong relationship with them.
"They lost a brother and a son, to the person that I was, but now that I've found myself back on track, it's been enjoyable, and they can't wait for me to get back playing."
You can listen to the full interview with Brandon Williams in the latest 1904 Club episode via the links below....
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