The Five Stripes’ backline exodus continues with the exit of a veteran team leader.
Atlanta United has transferred center back Derrick Williams to English third division side Reading FC, the club announced on Friday. Though there is no transfer fee associated with the deal, Atlanta will retain a sell-on clause.
“Derrick has been a great teammate and a true professional during his time with the club. This is a great opportunity for him to continue his career and is in the best interest of all parties involved,” Atlanta United CSO Chris Henderson said in a statement.
Williams, 32, was signed during Stage Two of the 2023 MLS Re-Entry Draft and played 51 games for the Five Stripes. Before he arrived in Atlanta, he had stops at LA Galaxy and D.C. United.
The former Ireland International’s best moment for the club had to be the goal he scored during Game 2 of Atlanta’s historic upset over Inter Miami in the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. His header tied the game in the second half and set up a dramatic finish inside a rowdy Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Williams’ departure is the most recent modification to Atlanta’s center back corps, after the departures of Luis Abram (buyout), Noah Cobb (loan to Colorado Rapids), and Efrain Morales (trade to CF Montreal), and the signings of Enea Mihaj and Juan Berrocal.
I saw the leadership qualities he brought to the field and he always seemed to have control of that back line but after he came back from his different injuries, you could see he was struggling a bit. His header against Miami though will not be forgotten.
Sell on clause?
“…a veteran team leader”
But in what?
Kidding aside, glad he is getting an opportunity to re-set and keep playing, and the club may get a little money out of it eventually if he is able to rehab his career.
Derrick exceeded expectations during his time in Atlanta, arriving in the Re-Entry draft before becoming one of our regular starters. I appreciate everything he contributed to the team.
Looking ahead, it seems that Mijah, Gregersen, and maybe Berrocal are our long-term plan at CB, with Kaiden Moore arriving as a new HG LCB in January. Moore hasn’t played much for the 2s this year and spent most of the season with the U-18s. I would expect him to be loaned back to the 2s next year and not be in the mix. Nigel Prince (Northwestern U) would be a more pro-ready CB option for us, who could either return on a deal like Matt Edwards (2s prove-it deal) or like Reilly (HGP). That is still thin at CB with injuries and international call-ups likely to force rotations throughout the 2026 season. Maybe Edwards fills in, and maybe Hernandez does, too, if necessary. There should be a few decent MLS free agents and Waiver options this winter, so we’ll see how things shake out.
I don’t think CB should be a position where we have FBs playing as a “fill-in”. I can understand if something happening mid-match, but it seems like we have been playing Edwards and Hernandez purposely out of position at CB for a good chunk of the season.
seemingly bent on putting a lot of pressure on FBs, another area where we are thin on bodies and starting caliber talent.
hope there are a couple more signings soon!
So we are basically saying screw CB depth at this point?
Most recent press conference with Ronny seemed to imply current strategy is they’re supposed to be good with only 3 or 4 cbs, and if we aren’t then something is severely wrong with the ones you have (which has been true, to be fair). In theory they shouldn’t need to be subbed, they’re supposed to be on 90’ like the gk.
Yeah layering in a 4th depth piece would be ideal in the offseason but 3 should be sufficient to get us through the season.
Ideally we would get another fullback, but as long as we have a plan going into winter it kinda just is what it is.
I anticipate we still wont be the well oiled machine we expect just yet, but I do think we’ll start to function more like a proper team with upgrades at CB and alongside Slizs (Alzate vs Klich from a personnel standpoint).
Its a shame its taken this long but I feel like the building blocks of the team are starting to fall into place.
Considering the injury history of Gregersen, I would still be comfortable having a 4th CB. Even if it means signing someone off of the 2s until the end of the season is better than nothing. Not saying we should be making a push for the playoffs or anything, but I would rather see real CBs play CB for the rest of the season, not Hernandez/Edwards playing out of position.
Oh I agree completely. I’ve hated having the CB pairing of Slisz and Hernandez lately. Just reporting what the FO’s strategy appears to be, for better or worse. Maybe they’re hoping the consistency at CB will be better with the new ones?