Kian Williams
{{Short description|English footballer (born 2000)}}
{{Distinguish|Kiyan Williams}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Kian Williams
|image =
|full_name = Kian Paul James Williams
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2000|7|1|df=y}}{{WorldFootball.net|kian-williams_2}}
|birth_place = Leicester, England
|height = 1.83 m{{Soccerway|kiam-williams/475106}}
|position = Midfielder
|currentclub = Valour FC
|clubnumber = 7
|youthyears1 =
|youthclubs1 = Leicester City
|youthyears2 =
|youthclubs2 =
|years1 = 2018–2019 |clubs1 = Leicester City |caps1 = 0 |goals1 = 0
|years2 = 2018 |clubs2 = → Barwell (loan) |caps2 = 3 |goals2 = 0
|years3 = 2019 |clubs3 = → Stratford Town (loan) |caps3 = 10 |goals3 = 0
|years4 = 2019 |clubs4 = Magni Grenivík |caps4 = 14 |goals4 = 5
|years5 = 2019 |clubs5 = Stratford Town |caps5 = 0 |goals5 = 0
|years6 = 2020–2022 |clubs6 = Keflavík |caps6 = 52 |goals6 = 11
|years7 = 2023– |clubs7 = Valour FC |caps7 = 23 |goals7 = 4
|club-update = 6 October 2023
}}
Kian Paul James Williams (born 1 July 2000) is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Canadian Premier League club Valour FC.
Early life
Williams played in the Leicester City youth system from the U10 level through to the U21s.{{cite web|url=https://canpl.ca/article/theres-a-lot-of-eyes-on-the-league-valour-signing-kian-williams-excited-about-cpl-opportunity|title='There's a lot of eyes on the league': Valour signing Kian Williams excited about CPL opportunity|date=3 January 2023|work=Canadian Premier League|first=Benedict|last=Rhodes}}{{Cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/valour-fc-kian-williams/|title=Is English Winger Kian Williams Set For Valour?|date=14 December 2022|work=Northern Tribune|first=John|last=Jacques}}
Career
In August 2018, Leicester City sent him on loan to Barwell in the seventh tier Southern Football League Premier Division Central.{{cite web|url=https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/barwell/news/young-leicester-city-winger-joins-on-work-experien-2332591.html|title=Young Leicester City winger joins on work experience|first=Luke|last=Pawley|date=8 August 2018|work=Barwell F.C.}} In January 2019, he went on loan to Stratford Town also in the seventh tier Southern Football League Premier Division Central.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stratfordobserver.co.uk/sport/cup-win-is-a-great-tonic-for-town/|title=Cup win is a great tonic for Town|date=10 January 2019|work=Stratford Observer}}
In August 2019, Williams joined Icelandic club Magni Grenivík in the second tier 1. deild karla.{{cite web|url=https://www.magnigrenivik.is/is/fyrirtaekid/mot/starfsfolk/thrir-leikmenn-i-magna|title=Þrír leikmenn í Magna|trans-title=Three players in Magna|language=Icelandic|date=1 August 2019|work=Magni Grenivík}} Three months later, following the season, he returned to England.{{cite web|url=https://jobs4football.com/kian-williams-and-marley-blair-icelandic-side-keflaviks-english-duo/|title=Kian Williams and Marley Blair – Icelandic side Keflavik's English duo|date=3 September 2021|work=Jobs4Football|first=Matty|last=Ingham|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903204959/https://jobs4football.com/kian-williams-and-marley-blair-icelandic-side-keflaviks-english-duo/|archive-date=3 September 2021|url-status=dead}}
In October 2019, he returned to Stratford Town.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stratfordobserver.co.uk/sport/all-change-as-town-bring-in-eight/|title=All change as Town bring in eight|date=17 October 2019|work=Stratford Observer}}{{cite web|url=https://www.stratford-herald.com/sport/two-new-signings-a-familiar-face-returns-and-three-out-the-door-at-town-9132642/|title=Two new signings, a familiar face returns and three out the door at Town|date=11 October 2019|first=Craig|last=Gibbons|work=Stratford Herald}}
In February 2020, he signed with Keflavík ÍF in the Icelandic second tier.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mbl.is/sport/efstadeild/2020/02/26/keflavik_semur_vid_englending/|title=Keflavík semur við Englending|trans-title=Keflavík negotiates with England|language=Icelandic|work=Morgunblaðið}} He helped them earn promotion to the top tier Úrvalsdeild{{cite web|url=https://valourfc.canpl.ca/article/the-challenge-part-fires-me-up-every-game-to-try-and-help-the-team-win-through-goals-and-assists|title=Kian Williams: "It's important to always stay level-headed and always know who you are as a player and your abilities."|date=19 May 2023|work=Valour FC|first=Ed|last=Tait}} and signed an extension through 2022.{{Cite web|date=12 January 2021|title=Framlengdi í Keflavík|trans-title=Extension in Keflavík|url=https://www.mbl.is/sport/efstadeild/2021/01/12/framlengdi_i_keflavik/|language=Icelandic|work=Morgunblaðið}} After the 2022 season, he departed the club.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vf.is/ithrottir/kian-williams-genginn-til-lids-vid-kanadiskt-urvalsdeildarlid|trans-title=Kian Williams has joined a Canadian Premier League team|language=Icelandic|title=Kian Williams genginn til liðs við kanadískt úrvalsdeildarlið|first=Jóhann Páll|last=Kristbjörnsson|work=Víkurfréttir}} Afterwards, he returned to England and was training with Burton Albion.{{cite web|url=https://valourfc.canpl.ca/article/i-feel-like-i-could-fit-this-style-of-play-and-enjoy-my-football-kian-williams|title="I feel like I could fit this style of play and enjoy my football" - Kian Williams|date=22 February 2023|work=Valour FC|first=Ed|last=Tait}}
In December 2022, he signed with Canadian Premier League club Valour FC for the 2023 season.{{Cite web|url=https://valourfc.canpl.ca/article/valour-fc-sign-english-forward-kian-williams|title=Valour FC sign English forward Kian Williams|date=21 December 2022|work=Valour FC}}{{cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/valour-fc-kian-williams-2023/|title=Valour FC Signs English Forward Kian Williams|date=21 December 2022|work=Northern Tribune|first=John|last=Jacques}} Cavalry FC had also been interested in signing Williams, but he chose to join Valour.{{Cite web|url=https://fotbolti.net/news/09-12-2022/kian-williams-fra-keflavik-i-urvalsdeildina-i-kanada-stadfest|title=Kian Williams frá Keflavík í úrvalsdeildina í Kanada (Staðfest)|trans-title=Kian Williams from Keflavík to the Premier League in Canada (Confirmed)|date=9 December 2022|first=Sæbjörn Þór Þórbergsson|last=Steinke|language=Icelandic|work=Fótbolti}} He scored his first CPL goal on 30 April in a 1-1 draw against Cavalry.{{cite web|url=https://canpl.ca/article/match-analysis-bevan-and-williams-score-on-either-side-of-halftime-as-cavalry-and-valour-draw-1-1|title=Match Analysis: Bevan and Williams score on either side of halftime as Cavalry and Valour draw 1-1|date=30 April 2023|work=Canadian Premier League|first=Benedict|last=Rhodes}} After beginning the season as a winger, he transitioned to the striker role late in the season.{{cite web|url=https://valourfc.canpl.ca/article/i-feel-like-im-a-player-that-can-adapt-to-any-of-the-attacking-positions|title=Kian Williams: "I feel like I'm a player that can adapt to any of the attacking positions"|date=19 September 2023|work=Valour FC|first=Ed|last=Tait}} In 2023, he finished tied for the team lead in goals with four and led the team in assists with five.{{Cite web|url=https://valourfc.canpl.ca/article/what-it-is-for-me-is-the-coaches-belief-in-me-and-this-is-a-place-where-i-think-i-can-improve|title=Kian Williams: "What it is for me is the coaches' belief in me, and this is a place where I think I can improve."|date=28 February 2024|work=Valour FC|first=Ed|last=Tait}} In February 2024, he signed an extension with the club through the 2025 season.{{Cite web|url=https://valourfc.canpl.ca/article/valour-fc-extend-english-forward-kian-williams|title=Valour FC extend English forward Kian Williams|date=28 February 2024|work=Valour FC}}{{Cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/valour-fc-kian-williams-contract-extension/|title=Williams Nets Contract Extension With Valour|date=28 February 2024|work=Northern Tribune|first=John|last=Jacques}} Before the beginning of the 2024 season, he tore his ACL, requiring three surguries and causing him to miss the entire season.{{cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/valour-star-kian-williams-out-for-season/|title=Valour Star Kian Williams Out For Season|date=7 August 2024|work=Northern Tribune|first=John|last=Jacques}}{{cite web|url=https://valourfc.canpl.ca/article/roster-update-kian-williams|date=6 August 2024|work=Valour FC|title=Roster Update: Kian Williams}}{{Cite web|url=https://valourfc.canpl.ca/article/in-your-darkest-moments-those-are-the-things-you-lean-on-that-people-care-about-you|title=Kian Williams: "In your darkest moments those are the things you lean on; that people care about you."|date=February 20, 2025|work=Valour FC|first=Ed|last=Tait}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerway|kiam-williams/475106}}
- {{WorldFootball.net|kian-williams_2}}
- [https://www.aylesburyunitedarchive.com/player/kian-williams/29512 Kian Williams] Non-league stats
{{Valour FC squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Kian}}
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Footballers from Leicester
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Southern Football League players
Category:1. deild karla players
Category:Úrvalsdeild karla (football) players
Category:Canadian Premier League players
Category:Leicester City F.C. players
Category:Stratford Town F.C. players