Former Manchester United defender Brandon Williams has insisted he has ‘learned from his mistakes’ as he aims to rebuild his career after receiving a suspended jail sentence.
Williams had been without a club for a year since the expiration of his contract at Old Trafford.
Earlier this month, Daily Mail Sport revealed that Williams was being chased by clubs in the Championship and overseas.
Interest had grown following Williams’ form and attitude during a trial spell at Hull over the summer, with the Tigers ultimately winning the race to sign the defender on a one-year deal.
Earlier this year Williams confirmed he wanted to resume his career at a new club after being handed a suspended jail sentence for a 99mph car crash. He had admitted charges of dangerous driving and driving without insurance.
Williams was sentenced to 14 months in prison, suspended for two years, acknowledged his mistakes in an interview with BBC Radio Humberside.
Brandon Williams insists he has learned from his mistakes as he returns to football
Williams, who broke through at Man United, was given a suspended jail sentence for a 99mph car crash earlier this year
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‘It was in the moment I was in, I wasn’t in a good place,’ Williams said.
‘It’s a big regret and I’ve learned from my mistakes. I was still a young boy and I’m grown up now. My focus is back on football and that’s all I want to do now.’
Williams, whose last competitive match was back in December 2023, admitted he had ‘fallen out of love with football’ and took the decision to step back from the game.
‘I took action to step away from the game but I feel like I managed it well,’ Williams said.
‘I was working in silence. Everyone was questioning what I was doing but I was working the whole time.
‘I was keeping fit and making sure I was ready to step back into football. It was always the aim.’
Williams had broken into Man United’s first team after coming through the academy, with the full back making 51 appearances for his boyhood club.
He also spent time on loan at Norwich and Ipswich.
Williams has signed a one-year contract with Hull City after 20 months out of the game
Hull offered Williams the chance to rebuild his career in pre-season by taking him on trial, with the defender playing in friendlies against Sunderland and Getafe.
Williams ultimately signed an initial one-year deal with an option to extend for a further year.
Williams told Hull’s club website that he is now a ‘different person’ as he returns to football, but admits it will take him time to get back up to speed.
‘I had a couple of very honest meetings with the manager,’ Williams said. ‘We know it’s going to be a process to get fully back up to speed, having that time out. It had been 20 months since I played or was involved with a team.
‘I appreciated the manager’s honesty. Now, it’s down to me to work hard and get as many games as I can.
‘It was very difficult (taking a break from football) – mentally and physically. It’s been a long road back, but probably something I needed. Now, I’m back here a different person.
‘I’ve grown up a lot and I’m ready to just focus on the football. I’ve missed it. I’m hungry, I’m fiery. I know what quality I can bring to the team. As soon as I get back to that, I’m sure I’ll be an asset to the team.
‘I’ve put in the work and gained the trust of the manager, the people above him and the coaching staff.
‘Now, I’ve got to show it to the fans and my teammates to prove I’m here to work hard and help the team get results.’
Williams was an unused substitute for Hull’s win over Oxford United on Sunday, as he closes in on his first competitive appearance since 2023.
