Neco Williams

Neco Williams emerged from Liverpool's academy as a right-sided full-back, then also played on the left for Nottingham Forest. From the right, he can reach the touchline and cross with his stronger foot. From the left, he has to balance forward runs with the passing lane behind him. That adaptability has shaped his career.

Liverpool recruited him at under-nine level. He made his senior debut against Arsenal in the League Cup in October 2019, crossing for Divock Origi's stoppage-time equaliser in a 5-5 draw before Liverpool won the shootout. His delivery changed the match in an unusually demanding first-team introduction.

Williams made league appearances as Liverpool won the 2019-20 Premier League. He also collected winner's medals from the club's 2019 Club World Cup and 2022 League Cup campaigns. A February 2022 loan to Fulham brought a longer run of senior football; he contributed to their Championship title and promotion.

He moved permanently to Forest in July 2022. Premier League analysis soon described an adventurous right wing-back who pushed high, took shots and created chances, including from set pieces. A wide defender arriving in attacking areas can stretch the opponent's shape, while leaving space that teammates must cover when possession turns over.

His deployment on Forest's left highlighted the defensive half of that trade-off. A 2025 league tactical preview highlighted the need to block passes into Newcastle right winger Jacob Murphy's path, before he could supply the striker. The point is positional: stopping that route before the pass matters as much as a tackle after it. Playing on both flanks makes those angles a recurring part of Williams's game.

Forest finished seventh in the 2024-25 Premier League, earning European qualification after a long absence. Williams started the April 2026 Europa League semifinal first leg against Aston Villa, which Forest won 1-0. Villa overturned the tie in the return match. The run marked a substantial step in Forest's European return, though the club did not reach the final.

For Wales, Williams debuted against Finland in September 2020 and headed a late winner against Bulgaria in his second senior appearance. Selected for the 2022 World Cup, he played against England in the group stage. He started the March 2026 World Cup playoff against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which Wales lost on penalties, and supplied the cross for a June equaliser against Ghana.