Manchester United have announced that defender Brandon Williams has left the club.
Once a Red, always a Red.
After 14 years in the #MUAcademy and our first team, @BranWilliams has departed the club — wishing you every success for the future, Brandon ❤️ #MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) June 5, 2024
The club posted the news on social media this morning, saying:
“Once a Red, always a Red. After 14 years in the #MUAcademy and our first team, @BranWilliams has departed the club — wishing you every success for the future, Brandon.”
Still only 23 years of age, Williams has been in and around the first team for many years, making his debut in 2019/20.
He burst onto the scene aged 19 in that season and went on to make 36 appearances in all competitions, scoring a goal in the process.
The future looked bright for the Crumpsall man, whose full-blooded, marauding style instantly endeared him to the Old Trafford faithful.
However, the following season he did not kick on as expected and started to struggle both physically and mentally, managing only 14 appearances in a season largely spent in the treatment room and on the bench.
2021/22 saw him loaned out to Norwich City in an attempt to reboot his career. He performed well at Carrow Road but then another year littered with injuries and other problems meant he only saw five minutes of first team action with United in 2022/23, in a substitute appearance against Burnley in the EFL Cup.
2023/23 saw him head back out to East Anglia as he joined Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich Town. The season seemed to start well enough before injury hit again and Williams missed the entire second half of the Tractor Boys’ triumphant campaign.
Rumors of bad behavior off the pitch were not helped by a dangerous driving conviction last month that saw him banned from driving after getting 30 points on his license.
Reports of him taking hippy crack have also not helped his cause.
Substance abuse could be the explanation for his absence over much of the season, with the injury never having been specified by either Ipswich or United.
Where Williams will head next is unknown. The academy graduate has talent and youth on his side and could still make it at the top level of football. Leeds United were keen on him last summer but whether that is still the case is unknown.
