Reading’s recruitment list this summer has got a little bit more extensive, with it being announced today that Derrick Williams has retired. The 33-year-old centre-back only joined a year ago, on a free transfer from MLS side Atlanta United, but has now called time on his playing career.
Williams didn’t explicitly give a reason in his statement for his decision to retire, saying his mind had been made up after “much consideration across the off-season”, adding that “now is the right time to move on and
look ahead to what’s next for myself and my family”.
His retirement is likely though to be down to fitness reasons. The Irishman managed just 23 starts and one sub appearance (2,037 minutes overall) in Reading’s 2025/26 League One campaign, due to multiple injury layoffs, including one at the very end of the season. Given that he’s 33, that situation was unlikely to significantly improve going forwards.
Williams did however impress in his time on the pitch, making an immediate impact by winning our August player of the month award before continuing to show real class and composure – in and out of possession – in the remainder of the season.
In fact, Williams (6.2) was the highest-rated player in the squad to get at least 1,000 minutes of first-team football, going by our player ratings. That helped him to a fourth-placed finish in our player of the season voting: behind Jack Marriott, Lewis Wing and Joel Pereira, but ahead of Kamari Doyle and fellow centre-back Paudie O’Connor.
And going by the eye test, I’d certainly put Williams down as our best defender individually last season – the most consistent and reliable performer.
Although we didn’t see enough of him, Williams was a joy to watch last season. All the best for the future, Dez.
Reading do still have a strong partnership on the cards in O’Connor (aerially dominant, right-footed) and Benn Ward (more mobile, adept in possession, left-footed). Williams’ departure allows an opportunity to bring in a younger, more durable centre-back who can challenge those two – or potentially play alongside them if Leam Richardson wants to play a back three.
Otherwise, Jeriel Dorsett, Abraham Kanu, Haydon Roberts and Phillip Duah are among the current depth options. I’d be surprised though if Reading don’t now bring in a couple of additions to bulk out this department – those players are either needed elsewhere or are pretty young, and being caught short of options at centre-back is never something you want to risk.
In terms of other business, at time of writing we’re still waiting for a first new signing of the summer, although Kyreece Lisbie is reportedly having a medical after an accepted bid. Andy Rinomhota has agreed a new one-year deal, while Matt Ritchie made a similar choice to Williams, retiring a few weeks ago.
