Report: LA Galaxy set to sign defender Derrick Williams

News reports have been dropping like crazy in recent days linking the LA Galaxy to a defender, Derrick Williams, ahead of the 2021 MLS season. Numerous publications in Ireland have reported the news this week, as has Corner of the Galaxy over on this side of the Atlantic.

The 28-year-old is a German-born Irish international of American parents (basically, his family settled in Ireland when he was a kid) and so presumably he would not require an international spot for the Galaxy, much like new goalkeeper Jonathan Bond.

Coming through Aston Villa’s youth system, he’s played his entire professional club career to date in England. After making his debut for Villa in 2012, Williams moved to Bristol City the following year, making over 100 appearances in League One and the Championship for them. In 2016, he moved to another Championship side, Blackburn Rovers, again getting consistent action for the Lancashire club.

Williams is a full Ireland international, having made three appearances since debuting in 2018.

According to the Irish Independent, Williams is out of contract with Blackburn at the end of the current season, but he’s also hurt and not expected to return before the end of Blackburn’s season after undergoing quad surgery. As a result, Williams is reportedly already in the United States going through quarantine so he can be with the squad and get to work on rehab.

It’s therefore unclear if Williams will be officially signed before the start of the MLS season on April 17, or if the Galaxy will let his deal run out with Blackburn and then sign him officially in the summer. It sounds as though a deal is imminent, and with Williams not able to play for his current club, Blackburn will likely be satisfied with taking him off their books for the last couple months and cancelling his contract. But we’ll see.

Based on the sourcing and the fact that this deal is being reported both in Europe and here locally, I’d say this one looks pretty well rock-solid. We’ll keep you posted on developments as we hear more.

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