George Williams (footballer, born 1995)

George Christopher Williams (born 7 September 1995) is a professional footballer who plays for Grimsby Town and the Wales national team.

George Williams

Williams playing for Wales against the Netherlands in 2015
Personal information
Full name	George Christopher Williams[1]
Date of birth	(1995-09-07) 7 September 1995[2]
Place of birth	Milton Keynes, England
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[3]
Playing position(s)	Forward / Winger
Club information
Current team	Grimsby Town
Youth career
0000–2011	Milton Keynes Dons
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2011–2012	Milton Keynes Dons	0	(0)
2012–2018	Fulham	15	(0)
2015	→ Milton Keynes Dons (loan)	4	(0)
2016	→ Gillingham (loan)	10	(0)
2016–2017	→ Milton Keynes Dons (loan)	11	(0)
2018	→ St Johnstone (loan)	11	(0)
2018–2020	Forest Green Rovers	42	(8)
2020–	Grimsby Town	0	(0)
National team^‡
2012	Wales U17	2	(0)
2013	Wales U19	7	(1)
2014–2016	Wales U21	3	(0)
2014–	Wales	7	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15 June 2020 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 22:39, 8 July 2018 (UTC)

Career

Milton Keynes Dons

On 12 November 2011 Williams made his debut in the FA Cup victory over Nantwich Town,[4] briefly becoming Milton Keynes Dons' youngest player, before scoring his first professional goal making him Milton Keynes Dons youngest goalscorer being 16 years, two months and five days old.[5] The goal also made him the youngest scorer within the FA Cup proper rounds.

Fulham

On 14 June 2012, Williams joined Premier League side Fulham as a first year academy scholar for the 2012–13 season after an undisclosed compensation package was agreed between the two clubs.[6] Following his move to Fulham, MK Dons chairman Pete Winkelman said he was disappointed seeing Williams leave the club, and told the club's official website: "We are very disappointed that George has chosen not to take up his scholarship or the offer of a professional contract with MK Dons and has instead decided his future is best served with Fulham".[7]

Loan spells

On 16 February 2015, Williams rejoined League One side Milton Keynes Dons on a youth loan for the remainder of the 2014–15 season,[8] but his loan was cut short by an anterior cruciate ligament injury, keeping him out for between four and six months.[9]

On 12 February 2016, Williams joined League One side Gillingham on loan until the end of the 2015–16 season.[10]

On 29 July 2016, Williams returned to Milton Keynes Dons on loan until the end of the 2016–17 season.[11]

On 31 January 2018, Williams joined Scottish Premiership side St. Johnstone on loan until the end of the 2017–18 season.[12]

Forest Green Rovers

On 12 June 2018, Williams signed for League Two club Forest Green Rovers.[13] On 4 September 2018, He scored his first goal for the club in a 4-0 EFL Trophy win over Cheltenham Town.[14]

Grimsby Town

On 13 August 2020, Williams signed a two-year contract with League Two team Grimsby Town.[15]

International

Williams qualifies for Wales through his mother and represented Wales at under-17 and under-19 levels.[16] On 5 March 2014, Williams made his Wales under-21 debut as an 83rd-minute substitute in a 1–0 defeat to England.[17] On 27 May 2014, he was called up to the senior Wales squad for a friendly match against Holland to be played on 4 June 2014 as a replacement for the injured Gareth Bale. He made his international debut as a replacement for Jonathan Williams in the 70th minute of the match.

Williams was included by manager Chris Coleman as a member of Wales' Euro 2016 squad that reached the semi-finals of the tournament, although he did not make an appearance.[18]

Career statistics

As of 14 May 2018[19]

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Milton Keynes Dons	2011–12	League One	2	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	3	1
Fulham	2012–13	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	–		0	0
	2013–14	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	–		0	0
	2014–15	Championship	14	0	0	0	2	0	—		16	0
	2015–16	Championship	1	0	0	0	0	0	—		1	0
	2016–17	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	–		0	0
	2017–18	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	–		0	0
	Total		15	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	17	0
Milton Keynes Dons (loan)	2014–15	League One	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
Gillingham (loan)	2015–16	League One	10	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	10	0
Milton Keynes Dons (loan)	2016–17	League One	11	0	0	0	2	0	2	0	15	0
St Johnstone (loan)	2017–18	Scottish Premiership	11	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	11	0
Career total			53	0	1	1	4	0	2	0	60	1

References

1. "Premier League Clubs submit Squad Lists" (PDF). Premier League. 4 February 2014. p. 15. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 March 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
2. "George Williams". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
3. Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 499. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
4. "MK Dons 6–0 Nantwich Town". BBC Sport. 12 November 2011.
5. "ROBBO: BOY DON GOOD". Milton Keynes Dons FC. 12 November 2011. Archived from the original on 16 June 2012.
6. "FFC Sign Williams". Fulham FC. 14 June 2012.
7. "Dons irked as Cottagers pounce". Sky Sports. 14 June 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
8. "George Williams: MK Dons re-sign Fulham & Wales midfielder". BBC Sport. 16 February 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
9. "Williams Injury Update". Fulham F.C. 9 March 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
10. "George Williams: Gillingham sign Fulham midfielder on loan". BBC Sport. 12 February 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
11. "Wales' Williams rejoins Dons". Retrieved 31 January 2018.
12. "Duo Leave On Loan | Fulham Football Club". Fulham F.C. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
13. "George Williams: Forest Green sign ex-Fulham midfielder". BBC Sport. 12 June 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
14. "Forest Green Rovers 4-0 Cheltenham Town - Report". stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk. 4 September 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
15. "Williams is a Mariner". Grimsby Town F.C. 13 August 2020.
16. "Wales". George Williams. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
17. "England U21 1–0 Wales U21". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
18. "Euro 2016: Wales include Joe Ledley in 23-man squad for Euro 2016". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
19. "Games played by George Williams". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 August 2016.

External links

• George Williams at Soccerbase