Aug 30, 2025; Harrison, New Jersey, USA; A general view of a game ball before the match between the New York Red Bulls and the Columbus Crew at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
In desperate need of bolstering an uncertain back line, Red Bull New York has brought central defender Rhys Williams in for a trial.
The 25-year-old, whose contract expires with the Premier League giants Liverpool on June 30, was seen training with the first team at the Red Bull’s facilities in Morristown, NJ, on Wednesday.
There has been no decision yet on whether he will be offered a contract.
“Rhys has made a really positive impression,” New York head coach Michael Bradley said on Wednesday. “He’s come in, and he’s had a great attitude. He’s fit in really well with the group… We’ll continue to evaluate over this next period how to make our team better in every way. Rhys’ experience in the game is potentially of big value. We’ll spend the time with him. We’ll discuss with him and his agent what makes the most sense, and we’ll go from there.”
Williams has spent most of his life in the Liverpool system, working his way up from the U-10 youth ranks before making his first-team debut during the 2020-21 season under manager Jurgen Klopp, who is now the head of global soccer for Red Bull International.
The last five years have mostly comprised of loans elsewhere in the United Kingdom, from Swansea to Blackpool, to Port Vale and Morecambe.
Red Bull head of sport Julian de Guzman has already made it known that he is looking to improve his team’s defense this summer. Justin Che and Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty look like bona fide stalwarts to build upon, but the rest of the depth is suspect, whether that be Dylan Nealis, Tim Parker, or Robert Voloder. New York signed Colombian center back Julian Bazan earlier this year, but he has yet to appear with the first team.
Despite sitting in fifth place in the Eastern Conference at the World Cup break, Red Bull has conceded 32 goals in 15 matches and has a minus-7 goal differential.
For more on Rhys Williams and Red Bull New York, visit AMNY.com