Birkenhead-born Ryan Williams, 35, is currently playing for Detroit City in the USL Championship, capping a career that has taken in Wales, Canada, Brazil and Sweden. Early in his career, Williams dreamed of making it at Everton, but a trial at the Merseyside club ended with praise for his technical ability and a warning that he lacked the physique to make the grade.
He told TheSetPieces in 2018: "I had a bit of a weird start in football. I started at a time when all they [clubs] wanted were the biggest players they could find. I had a trial at Everton and they said I was the best player technically that had come in on trial, but I wasn't big enough. So I went to Chester."
Journey through north Wales
When Chester folded in 2010, Williams moved on to Colwyn Bay and had a loan spell at Llandudno. His tour of north Wales clubs continued as he joined Rhyl, where his form earned him a move to Morecambe. After leaving the Shrimps, he was picked up by Brentford, then of the Championship, where he spent a season before a short spell in Scotland with Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
In 2016, Williams took his nomadic career global by joining Canadian side Ottawa Fury, then managed by Paul Dalglish, son of Kenny. He described it as "the best decision I could've made" despite some early issues.
He recalled: "Initially, I struggled. I didn't expect the standard to be as good as it was. I was coming up against lads who'd played in the Champions League, La Liga, the Bundesliga. I was dealing with playing in heat I'd never played in before, travelling on planes to games."
Brazil and beyond
In 2018, Williams made an even more eye-catching move, joining Brazilian second-tier side Paysandu, based in Belem, at the mouth of the Amazon River. He was the first Englishman ever to play for the club. Just days after his arrival, the manager who signed him got the sack. He said at the time: "In England, the coaches tend to last a little bit longer. I've been in England and seen teams go on winless runs of 12 or 15 games. Over here, the manager didn’t win three games and bit the bullet."
However, it was an experience he relished. He added: "[I went] to a market last week for an interview. It was this special market with foods from the Amazon. That was a bit of an experience, very different to anything I've seen. But that was part of the attraction of coming over. I'm getting exposed to things that if I'd stayed in England, I'd never have been exposed to. So not only as a footballer but as a person, it's going to really help me to develop and grow."
Settling in Detroit
There was a brief stint back in English football with his local side, Tranmere Rovers, before he was on his travels again, joining new club Hartford Athletic of the USL Championship, the second tier of football in the United States. It was then back to Europe with AFC Eskilstuna of the Swedish second division.
He now appears to have settled at Detroit, of the USL Championship, where he has played since 2024. Earlier this year, the club announced Williams had re-signed for the 2026 season. While he may not be a household name, Williams can at least reflect on one of the most varied careers in the game, filled with memories and unforgettable experiences.
