USMNT midfielder Danny Williams has signed a long-term deal with Championship side Reading.
The deal was announced on Reading’s website this afternoon with the versatile American set to help Nigel Adkins on his quest to get the Royals back into the English Premier League.
Reading have seen US players shine for them in the past, with Bobby Convey and Marcus Hahnemann both playing for the Berkshire-based club. So their blue and white hooped jerseys won’t be a strange site for U.S. soccer fans.
However, is swapping one of the Bundesliga’s smaller sides for one of the favorites to win England’s second-tier a smart move?
Williams, 24, is delighted with his decision.
I am very excited to be here, I am really looking forward to the season and to try to get the club back to the Premier League. I spoke to the manager yesterday when I did my medicine check and he is a really great, nice guy. I’m looking forward to working with him, everything is perfect here. I would like to say to the Reading fans I will give 100% every game, I am proud to wear this jersey and will do everything to help this team back to the Premier League.
Williams, 24, has played in Germany his whole career and holds dual citizenship in Germany and the US, he was one of Jurgen Klinsmann’s first new inclusions when the German took over as head coach of the US national team. However with plenty of MLSers moving ahead of him in the depth chart during recent World Cup qualifiers and friendlies, the German born Yank will be hoping to edge his way back into Klinsmann’s plans in the coming months.
No doubt Williams has already spoke with Klinsmann about the move and how it would affect his chances with the USMNT, so it must have been looked on favorably by Klinsi now that Williams is a Reading player.
Recently the Karlsruhe native was released from the USA’s World Cup qualifying squad, citing “lack of fitness” following an end of season injury with Hoffenheim. Now could that have been used for him to return to Europe and sort out his move to Reading? Intriguing.
Anyway, Williams’ move will have plenty of US national team fans keeping one eye out for Reading’s results in the Championship next season. But with the World Cup less than a year away, I do have reservations about Williams joining a second-tier side.
Granted, Reading are one of the favorites to be promoted but given the increasing number of US players in top flights across Europe, Williams may have been better off staying in the Bundesliga or maybe moving to France or Italy if he had the chance to.
But then again, he will likely start most games for Reading and could help them seal EPL promotion ahead of the World Cup. Then everyone will be looking forward to having yet another USMNT player to watch in the English Premier League.
