Neco Williams

Club career Liverpool

Williams represented Liverpool at U18, U19 and U23 level. He suffered a serious back injury that ruled him out for most of the 2017–18 season, but he recovered his place to feature in the club's victorious FA Youth Cup campaign two years later.

Williams's form at youth level was rewarded when, on 30 October 2019, he made his debut for the senior side, starting in a 5–5 (5–4) penalty shoot-out win over Arsenal in the EFL Cup. He featured prominently in the match and recorded a last-minute assist for Divock Origi's goal to send the match to penalties, where Liverpool emerged victorious. In December, he was included in Liverpool's squad which won the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup, although he was an unused substitute in both of the club's matches in the competition.

Following the turn of the year, he starred in a team largely made up of teenagers and reserves that defeated Merseyside rivals Everton in the FA Cup 3rd round, and Shrewsbury Town in the 4th round replay, forcing an own goal from Ro-Shaun Williams in the latter fixture to secure his side's progression in the competition. In the match against Shrewsbury, Williams was also part of a starting line-up that was the youngest in Liverpool's history, with an average age of 19 years and two days. His Premier League debut followed on 24 June 2020, shortly after the campaign resumed following a three-month long suspension caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, when he featured as a 74th-minute substitute in a 4–0 win over Crystal Palace. Williams would go on to make enough appearances to secure his league winners' medal, becoming the fifth Welsh player to win the Premier League. A few weeks later on 17 August, he signed a new long-term deal with the Reds.

Loan to Fulham On 31 January 2022, Williams joined Championship club Fulham on loan until the end of the 2021–22 season. He scored the first senior club goals of his career when he scored twice in a 5–1 win over Swansea City on 8 March 2022.

Nottingham Forest Williams signed for newly promoted Premier League club Nottingham Forest on 10 July 2022 on a four-year contract for a fee reported to be around £17 million. On 22 April 2023, Williams scored his first goal for the club in a 3–2 away loss against his former club Liverpool. On 1 July 2025, he extended his contract with the club until 2029.

International career Williams has represented Wales at U19 level. In August 2020 he was called into the senior Wales squad for the first time. Williams made his Wales debut in a 1–0 UEFA Nations League win over Finland on 3 September 2020. He scored his first goal for the senior team on 6 September 2020 against Bulgaria in the UEFA Nations League, scoring the winning goal in a 1–0 victory for Wales. In May 2021 he was selected for the Wales squad for the delayed UEFA Euro 2020 tournament.

Williams helped Wales qualify for the FIFA World Cup in 2022 for the first time since 1958. In November 2022, he was named in the Wales squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Personal life Williams has a younger brother, Keelan Williams, who plays for Denbigh Town; he also played for the Liverpool youth team as well as Burnley's U18 and U21 sides. Neco also has an older sister, Taya Williams, and two younger sisters, Sarae Williams and Ocea Williams. His father's family is from Porthmadog.

Williams attended Ysgol Rhiwabon in Ruabon. A mural of Williams was erected in his home village of Cefn Mawr.

Career statistics Club

International

Wales's score listed first, score column indicates score after each Williams goal

Liverpool Premier League: 2019–20 FIFA Club World Cup: 2019

Fulham EFL Championship: 2021–22