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MJ Williams
MJ Williams
from Wikipedia

Michael Jordan Williams (born 6 November 1995) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays for EFL League Two club Barrow. He can play either central midfield or centre-back.[4][5]

Key Information

Club career

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Liverpool

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Williams joined Liverpool academy at U14 level, having previously been playing for Wrexham.[4][5][6]

On 23 September 2014, he made his first-team debut in a League Cup clash against Middlesbrough, coming on as a substitute in 79th minute for Jordan Rossiter. Williams scored in the penalty shootout.[7] He was an unused substitute in the game against AFC Wimbledon in the third round of the FA Cup, and against Blackburn Rovers in a quarter-final of the same tournament, as well as Premier League games against Burnley and Manchester City and a UEFA Europa League clash against Turkish side Beşiktaş J.K.[8] On 22 January 2015, he signed his first professional contract, signing a 2+12-year deal with Liverpool.[9]

In 2015 Williams picked up an injury so bad he was nearly forced to retire, however after being the first Welsh footballer to undergo a cartilage transplant he was able to recover and continue his career.[10]

In the 2016–17 season, Williams returned from his injury and was featured for the Liverpool U23 side.[11] He did appear as an unused substitute in a FA Cup fourth round replay against Plymouth Argyle, which saw Liverpool win 1–0.[12] In January transfer window of 2017, Williams was expected to leave the club on a permanent basis, with Charlton Athletic and MK Dons were among interested.[13] Although the move never happened, Williams stayed at the club for the rest of the season; eventually, signing a contract extension.[14]

He was released by Liverpool at the end of the 2017–18 season.[15]

Loan spells

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On 26 March 2015, Williams was loaned out to Notts County.[16] He made his Notts County debut, where he started the whole game, in a 2–2 draw against Scunthorpe United on 28 March 2015.[17] He went on to make eight appearances for the side, as Notts County were relegated to League Two next season.[18] He returned to his parent club at the end of the 2014–15 season.[19]

On 10 July 2015, he joined Swindon Town on a season-long loan.[20] Williams made his Swindon Town debut in the opening game of the season, where he set up a goal for Nathan Byrne, who went on to score a hat–trick, in a 4–1 win over Bradford City.[21] He started out in the midfield position before moving to the defence position.[22] However, he suffered a knee injury that saw him sidelined for most of the season.[23] Although he returned to training in early–2016, Manager Martin Ling hinted about terminating his loan with Swindon Town last month, though he resigned as Manager that month.[24] After cutting his loan spell with the club in February 2016 to allow Williams to heal from his knee injury, he went on to make ten appearances for Swindon Town.[25]

On 31 August 2017, Williams was loaned to Rochdale until 1 January 2018.[26] He made his Rochdale debut, where he started the whole game and played with teammate with the same name, in a 0–0 draw against Southend United on 2 September 2017.[27] In the EFL Trophy Group Stage against Bury, Williams set up a goal for Ian Henderson to score the fourth goal, in a 4–0 win on 19 September 2017.[28] He went on to make 14 appearances for Rochdale before suffering an injury that ended his loan spell at the club.[29]

Rochdale

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On 14 June 2018, he joined Rochdale on a permanent deal, signing a two-year contract.[30]

Williams' first game after signing for the club on a permanent basis came in the opening game of the season against Burton Albion, where he started the whole game, in a 2–1 win for Rochdale.[31] A 4–0 loss against Barnsley on 21 August 2018 included three players by the name of Jordan Williams, with two of them at Rochdale and one at Barnsley.[32]

Blackpool

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Williams joined Blackpool on 24 August 2020, signing a one-year contract with the option for a further year.[33]

Bolton Wanderers

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On 1 February 2021, Williams joined League Two side Bolton Wanderers on an 18-month contract.[34] His debut came on 9 February in a 1–1 draw against Morecambe.[35] Bolton finished the season in third, winning promotion to League One[36] and Williams revealed there was a clause in his contract which would extend it by another year if he made a certain number of appearances in League One during the 2021–2022 season[37] and 5 November his contract was extended to 2023.[38]

On 9 April 2022, he scored the first league goal of his career when finding the net for Bolton in the 90th minute of a 1–1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday at the University of Bolton Stadium. The only other goal of his career had come in the FA Cup for Rochdale away at Newcastle United in January 2020.[39]

On 2 April, he came on as a substitute in the 2023 EFL Trophy Final against Plymouth Argyle. Bolton went on to win 4–0.[40] At the end of the season, he had played enough matches to see his contract extended for another year.[41]

Milton Keynes Dons

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On 12 July 2023, Williams joined League Two club Milton Keynes Dons for an undisclosed fee.[42] He made his debut for the club in the opening game of the 2023–24 season on 5 August 2023, in a 5–3 away win over Wrexham.[43]

Barrow

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On 23 January 2025, Williams joined League Two side Barrow for an undisclosed fee on a two-and-a-half year deal.[44]

International career

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Having previously featured for the Wales U17 side, Williams made his Wales under-21 debut in a 1–1 draw against Lithuania on 9 September 2014.[45]

In August 2015, Williams was called up to the Wales senior squad for the first time.[46] He was an unused substitute in the 1–0 win over Cyprus on 3 September 2015.[47]

Personal life

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Williams was born in Bangor, North Wales. He is a fluent Welsh speaker,[48] and attended Welsh-medium school Ysgol y Garnedd.[49]

In March 2016, during a Europa League match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford, a tweet was sent from Williams' Twitter account which was construed by many as mocking the Munich air disaster. Williams at the time claimed that his Twitter account had been hacked, he apologised and deleted his account.[50] He was later interviewed about the incident and revealed the anguish the incident had caused him and that he had thought "that Tweet could have finished me in football". He explained that he had not intended to reference the Munich air disaster but that it was a reference he and his friends had regularly made about "flying" when doing well. He admitted that his claim that his account had been hacked was borne from a naive panic and was not true.[51]

Career statistics

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As of 23 January 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Liverpool 2014–15[52] Premier League 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
Notts County (loan) 2014–15[52] League One 8 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
Swindon Town (loan) 2015–16[53] League One 9 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 10 0
Rochdale (loan) 2017–18[54] League One 12 0 0 0 0 0 2[a] 0 14 0
Rochdale 2018–19[55] League One 28 0 1 0 1 0 3[a] 0 33 0
2019–20[56] League One 28 0 5 1 2 0 0 0 35 1
Total 68 0 6 1 3 0 5 0 82 1
Blackpool 2020–21[57] League One 10 0 1 0 0 0 3[a] 0 14 0
Bolton Wanderers 2020–21[57] League Two 21 0 21 0
2021–22[58] League One 40 1 1 0 1 0 2[a] 0 44 1
2022–23[59] League One 28 0 0 0 2 0 5[a] 0 35 0
Total 89 1 1 0 3 0 7 0 100 1
Milton Keynes Dons 2023–24[60] League Two 37 1 1 0 1 0 3[b] 0 42 1
2024–25[61] League Two 13 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 16 1
Total 50 2 2 0 1 0 4 0 57 2
Barrow 2024–25[61] League Two 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career total 234 3 10 1 9 0 19 0 272 4
Notes
  1. ^ a b c d e Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
  2. ^ 1 appearance in the EFL Trophy, 2 appearances 2023–24 EFL League Two play-offs

Honours

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Bolton Wanderers

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Michael Jordan Williams, known professionally as MJ Williams, is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a defensive or centre-back for club Barrow. Born on 6 November 1995 in Bangor, , he is 1.87 metres (6 ft 2 in) tall and right-footed, having represented at youth international levels including the under-21 team. Williams began his youth career with before joining Liverpool's academy in 2009, where he progressed through the ranks until 2018. He made his professional debut for Liverpool's first team in a 2014 tie against , becoming one of the club's younger players to feature at the senior level. Following loan spells at Notts County and Swindon Town in 2015, Williams continued his development with further loans at in 2017–18 before signing permanently with the club in 2018. In August 2020, he moved to , contributing to their successful 2020–21 League One promotion campaign via the play-offs, though he departed midway through the season. Williams joined Wanderers on an 18-month in 2021, playing a key role in their League Two promotion as play-off winners that year. He extended his stay at until 2023, making over 100 appearances across competitions. In July 2023, Williams transferred to MK Dons on an undisclosed deal, where he featured in 59 matches and scored twice before moving to Barrow in January 2025 on a two-and-a-half-year for an undisclosed fee. As of November 2025, Williams has amassed 323 professional appearances, primarily in the , with six career goals.

Personal life

Early life and education

Michael Jordan Williams was born on 6 November 1995 in , Wales. Growing up in Bangor, a town in with a strong Welsh-speaking community, Williams became fluent in the . He attended Ysgol y Garnedd, a Welsh-medium in Bangor. Williams transitioned to a football academy.

2016 social media controversy

In March 2016, while on loan at Swindon Town from , MJ Williams—then known as Jordan Williams—found himself at the center of a storm following 's 3-0 victory over United in the round of 16 second leg at . After attending the match, Williams posted a tweet containing an emoji followed by clapping hands emojis, which many interpreted as a reference to the 1958 that claimed 23 lives, including eight United players. The post quickly drew widespread condemnation from United fans and others, who viewed it as insensitive and mocking a tragic event in football history. Williams swiftly deleted the tweet and issued a public apology on , claiming his account had been hacked and denying any intent to offend. He stated, "My has been hacked, I would never put anything like that to offend anyone, sorry about this," before permanently deleting his account to prevent further issues. The incident occurred amid his early career development through Liverpool's loan system, highlighting the pressures of scrutiny on young professionals. Liverpool FC responded promptly, launching an internal investigation into the matter and confirming they were aware of the allegations. A club spokesperson emphasized that they take such issues seriously but would handle it privately, stating, "We are aware of the incident and are dealing with it internally." Swindon Town, his loan club at the time, did not issue a separate statement but supported Liverpool's approach. The controversy damaged Williams' public image temporarily, portraying him as potentially unprofessional during a formative stage of his career and drawing media attention that overshadowed his on-pitch contributions. Despite his consistent denials of authoring the post, the backlash underscored the risks of for athletes, with Williams later reflecting on it as a learning experience amid ongoing loan spells in Liverpool's youth development pathway. The episode did not result in formal disciplinary action from the clubs, and Williams has maintained that the account was compromised, a claim he reiterated in subsequent interviews.

Club career

Liverpool academy and first team

MJ Williams joined 's academy at the age of 13 in 2009, signing from despite interest from Manchester City and Everton. He progressed through the youth ranks at the club's training facility, developing as a defensive and becoming a regular in the under-18 and under-21 teams. By his late teens, Williams had earned opportunities to train with the senior squad at , where he notably faced Italian striker during sessions in 2014. Williams made his first-team debut on 23 September 2014, at the age of 18, in a third-round match against at . Coming on as a substitute in the 79th minute for , he participated in the ensuing after a 2-2 draw, successfully converting his spot-kick as advanced 14-13. This appearance marked his only senior outing for the club, as subsequent opportunities were limited by the intense competition for midfield places under manager , with established players like and dominating the position. Williams' development was further hindered by a serious injury sustained shortly after his debut, which required multiple surgeries and sidelined him for extended periods. Despite efforts to regain form through youth and reserve matches, he was unable to break into the first team regularly. released him at the end of the 2017–18 season upon the expiry of his contract.

Loan spells

Williams began his loan career in March 2015, joining League One side Notts County on a short-term deal until the end of the 2014–15 season. Playing as a , he made 8 appearances for the club, which finished 21st and suffered relegation to League Two. These outings provided Williams with his first taste of senior professional football, helping him build match fitness before returning to . In July 2015, Williams secured a season-long loan to League One club Swindon Town, where he featured in 9 matches during the 2015–16 campaign. He made an immediate impact by assisting a goal on his debut in the opening-day victory over Southend United and contributed to the team's mid-table finish in 15th place, securing survival in the division. The spell enhanced his understanding of competitive League One football, after which he returned to Liverpool's academy setup. Williams' third loan came in August 2017, when he moved to League One outfit on an initial deal until January 2018. Over the course of the 2017–18 season, he adapted quickly to the physical demands of the league, making 12 appearances as ended 20th and avoided relegation. This period marked a significant step in his development, improving his physicality and tactical awareness in senior environments before he returned to . Collectively, these loan spells from —totaling 29 appearances across League One and Two—played a crucial role in Williams' progression, exposing him to regular first-team action and fostering greater resilience and experience.

Rochdale

In June 2018, Williams joined on a permanent free transfer from , signing an initial two-year contract upon the expiry of his previous deal. Having previously spent time on loan at the club during the 2017–18 season, he brought familiarity to the League One side. Williams primarily operated as a central during his tenure, establishing himself as a reliable presence in the squad. In the 2018–19 season, he became a regular starter, contributing to the team's midfield stability with 30 appearances in League One. The following –20 campaign saw him maintain his role, featuring in 21 League One matches, though the season was significantly impacted by the , which suspended fixtures from March until a curtailed resumption in June. Across his two seasons at from 2018 to 2020, Williams made a total of 70 appearances in all competitions. He was released by the club in June 2020 upon the expiration of his contract, as part of 's squad restructuring following the abbreviated season.

On 24 August 2020, following a consistent spell in League One with , MJ Williams joined on a free transfer, signing a one-year contract with the club holding an option to extend it by another year. This move represented an opportunity for Williams to continue his development in the third tier under manager , who was building a promotion-challenging side at . Williams made 10 appearances in the 2020–21 EFL League One season for Blackpool, primarily as a substitute, with limited starts due to fierce competition in midfield and adaptation challenges to the team's tactical setup. His involvement was further hampered by an elbow injury sustained during a 2–1 victory over Burton Albion on 24 October 2020, which scans confirmed would sideline him for several weeks rather than days, causing him to miss key fixtures including an FA Cup tie. Overall, he featured in 14 matches across all competitions during his brief tenure, without recording a goal or assist. On 1 February 2021, Williams completed a permanent free transfer to Bolton Wanderers, effectively ending his time at Blackpool five months after arriving. The departure allowed him to seek more regular playing time elsewhere, as Blackpool thanked him for his contributions and wished him well for the future.

Bolton Wanderers

MJ Williams joined Bolton Wanderers on 1 February 2021, signing an 18-month contract from Blackpool. He immediately integrated into the squad under manager Ian Evatt, making 21 appearances during the 2020–21 League Two season and playing a pivotal role in their promotion push. Williams featured in crucial late-season fixtures, including the full 90 minutes in the 4–1 victory over Crawley Town that confirmed Bolton's third-place finish and automatic promotion to League One on 8 May 2021. His defensive midfield presence contributed to a solid backline, helping the team secure 28 wins from 46 league games. In November 2021, Williams extended his contract with , committing his future to the club beyond the initial term. Over the following seasons, he established himself as a reliable squad member, featuring regularly in League One campaigns. Across his two-and-a-half-year stint from 2021 to 2023, Williams amassed 100 appearances and scored 1 goal in all competitions, with his solitary strike coming in a 1–1 league draw against Sheffield Wednesday on 9 April 2022. Williams played a significant part in Bolton's 2022–23 EFL Trophy triumph, appearing in multiple knockout rounds and substituting in during the final as they defeated Plymouth Argyle 4–0 at on 2 April 2023. This victory marked the club's first major trophy since and highlighted his contributions to their cup success. His 35 appearances that season also triggered an automatic one-year extension, though he departed the club in July 2023 after two-and-a-half years.

Milton Keynes Dons

On 12 July 2023, MJ Williams joined League Two club Milton Keynes Dons from Bolton Wanderers on a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee. Williams quickly established himself as a regular in the MK Dons midfield during the 2023–24 season, making 41 appearances across all competitions and scoring twice, including a goal in a 2–1 league win over Gillingham in September 2023. His consistent performances, often partnering with players like Ethan Robson, contributed to the team's strong campaign, as they finished fourth in League Two and qualified for the promotion playoffs, though they were eliminated in the semi-finals by Crawley Town. In the following 2024–25 season, Williams continued to feature prominently in the early months, adding 18 more appearances and one assist before his mid-season departure, helping maintain the club's mid-table position amid a transitional period. Overall, during his 18-month stint at MK Dons, he made 59 appearances and scored two goals, drawing on his prior promotion experience from Bolton to provide defensive solidity and leadership in midfield. Williams' time at the club ended on 23 January 2025, when he completed a permanent transfer to fellow League Two side Barrow for an undisclosed fee, six months before his was due to expire.

Barrow

On 23 January 2025, MJ Williams transferred to League Two club Barrow from MK Dons for an undisclosed fee, signing a two-and-a-half-year expiring on 30 June 2027. Williams has primarily featured as a defensive midfielder in Barrow's setup, providing solidity in the center of the park and leveraging his experience from prior League Two spells to aid the team's transition play. Following his arrival, he contributed to the remainder of the 2024–25 season with 18 League Two appearances and 3 cup outings. In the early stages of the 2025–26 campaign up to November 2025, Williams has added 7 league appearances and 2 cup matches, bringing his total for Barrow to approximately 30 outings across all competitions as of November 2025. In October 2025, he made his 300th professional appearance. His consistent involvement has supported Barrow's defensive structure, helping the side maintain a mid-table position in League Two amid a competitive season.

International career

Youth career

Williams earned his first call-up to the under-21 team in 2014, based on his form at club level. He made his only appearance for the side in a qualifying match, coming on as a substitute in a 1–1 draw against on 9 September 2014. Earlier in his youth career, Williams featured for the under-17 team in development matches and training camps aimed at preparing for qualifiers. Selection for these levels emphasized players showing consistent performances in domestic academies.

Senior career

Williams received his first call-up to the senior national team in August 2015, ahead of matches, following impressive performances during a loan spell at Swindon Town in League One. He was named in the squad by manager Chris Coleman and assigned jersey number 22, but remained an unused substitute in both fixtures: a 1–0 victory over on 3 September and a 0–0 draw against on 6 September. Despite this initial inclusion, Williams has not earned a senior cap for as of November 2025, with no further appearances or starts recorded in international matches. His exposure was limited to these two bench appearances during the 2015–16 season, marking the extent of his involvement with the senior team to date. Williams' senior international opportunities came amid a golden era for Welsh football, as the team qualified for —their first major tournament since 1958—and advanced to the semi-finals, defeating teams like , , and en route. Subsequent successes included reaching the 2018 FIFA World Cup playoffs and qualifying for , but Williams was not recalled despite solid club form at Wanderers in 2021, where he expressed hopes for a return based on his performances. No additional training invites or near-misses have been reported since his debut call-up.

Professional profile

Playing style

MJ Williams primarily operates as a defensive , often deployed in a central role where he anchors the midfield and provides stability to the team's structure. Capable of transitioning into a box-to-box role when required, his game emphasizes defensive discipline over attacking flair, allowing him to shield the backline effectively while contributing to build-up play from deeper positions. His strengths lie in defensive solidity, exemplified by his proficiency in aerial duels and ability to win possession through timely interceptions and tackles, making him a reliable "ball-winner" in high-pressure scenarios. Williams also demonstrates strong short passing accuracy, with a preference for quick, progressive distribution to maintain possession and initiate attacks, as observed in his consistent performances during Bolton Wanderers' promotion campaign. Additionally, his high work rate across both defensive and transitional phases underscores his value as a tireless operator, often described as a "fighter" and stabilizing force by those familiar with his contributions. However, Williams exhibits limitations in the final third, where his creativity and goal threat are minimal, reflecting a style more suited to containment than invention. He rarely ventures forward to influence attacking plays directly, which can restrict his involvement in offensive transitions. Throughout his career, Williams has evolved from a promising prospect into a robust senior professional, particularly enhancing his physicality and versatility following loan spells and recoveries. Post-loans at clubs like and , he adapted to senior demands by bulking up and refining his positional awareness, enabling occasional shifts to central defense while maintaining his midfield core. This development was evident in his resilience at , where he returned from a significant to deliver consistent outings.

Career statistics

MJ Williams has accumulated 272 professional appearances and 4 goals across various clubs as of November 2025. His statistics highlight consistent participation in midfield roles, primarily in League One and League Two, with limited goal contributions reflective of his defensive positioning. The table below details his club career statistics, broken down by club, competition, appearances, and goals:
ClubYearsLeague Apps (Goals)FA Cup Apps (Goals)League Cup Apps (Goals)Other Apps (Goals)Total Apps (Goals)
Liverpool2014–20180 (0)0 (0)1 (0)0 (0)1 (0)
Notts County (loan)20158 (0)0 (0)0 (0)0 (0)8 (0)
Swindon Town (loan)20159 (0)0 (0)1 (0)0 (0)10 (0)
Rochdale (loan)2017–1812 (0)0 (0)0 (0)2 (0)14 (0)
Rochdale2018–202050 (0)6 (1)3 (0)3 (0)62 (1)
Blackpool2020–20216 (0)1 (0)0 (0)2 (0)9 (0)
Bolton Wanderers2021–202390 (1)2 (0)3 (0)5 (0)100 (1)
Milton Keynes Dons2023–202550 (2)2 (0)2 (0)5 (0)59 (2)
Barrow2025–24 (0)1 (0)1 (0)2 (0)28 (0)
Career Total249 (3)12 (1)11 (0)19 (0)291 (4)
Williams has no senior international appearances for , despite being included in the squad and named on the bench for two European Qualifier matches in 2015. At youth level, he earned 1 cap for the Wales U21 team, scoring 0 goals, during a 1–1 draw against on September 9, 2014. He also featured for the Wales U17 side earlier in his career, though specific appearance figures are not detailed in available records. The table below summarizes his international career statistics:
LevelAppearances (Goals)
Senior0 (0)
U211 (0)

Honours

MJ Williams won the with Bolton Wanderers in the 2022–23 season. The final took place on 2 April 2023 at , where Wanderers defeated Plymouth Argyle 4–0 in front of a crowd of 79,389 spectators, marking the highest attendance for a match in that week and the largest margin of victory in EFL Trophy final history. Goals were scored by in the 4th minute, in the 10th minute, in the 49th minute, and in the 62nd minute, as dominated possession and restricted Plymouth to minimal chances despite the latter's position as League One leaders. Williams contributed to Bolton's successful Trophy campaign, appearing in five matches including the final, where he entered as a substitute in the 82nd minute for Josh Sheehan, helping to see out the victory and secure the club's first since 1989. No other major team or individual honours have been recorded in Williams' career as of 2025.

References

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