Ex-Manchester United defender Brandon Williams on trial at Rotherham to revive stalled career

Former Manchester United full-back Brandon Williams is on trial at League Two side Rotherham United as he attempts to resurrect a professional career that has stalled badly since his departure from Old Trafford. Williams, 25, was spotted in Rotherham colours during a pre-season friendly against non-league Parkgate FC, where he came on in the second half.

Rotherham’s new owner Alex Bruce — son of former United manager Steve Bruce — has spoken encouragingly about the player’s chances of earning a contract. “Brandon has a good pedigree,” Bruce told the Rotherham Advertiser. “He’s worked with the very best and played against the best. He was showing me a game between Manchester United and Liverpool at Anfield where he was playing. We know what he’s capable of.”

Bruce acknowledged that Williams has endured a difficult few years, including injury setbacks and a lack of consistent pre-season preparation. “He’s had a tough couple of years. He’s not done a proper pre-season for two or three years now,” Bruce said. “It’s a case of just seeing where he’s at, getting a good pre-season into him and seeing where we go with it. When both parties are happy, we’ll try to make a decision.”

Williams’s career trajectory has been troubled since he left United. He went 20 months without a professional appearance before signing for Hull City last year, 14 months after being released by his boyhood club. His time at the Tigers lasted only one substitute appearance before he departed by mutual consent in February.

Off the pitch, Williams received a 14-month suspended prison sentence in May 2025 after being convicted of dangerous driving. He crashed his Audi A3 at close to 100mph in Cheshire in 2023, striking a Ford Fiesta and hitting a central reservation.

Despite those setbacks, Williams has spoken openly about his determination to return to the game. “It hurts me watching football now because I just want to be there, I just want to play,” he said in May 2025. “I miss being in a team, on the coach, travelling to games. I want to go somewhere 100 per cent focused and kick on.”

A trial at Rotherham, where pre-season is now under way in earnest, represents one of the more concrete opportunities Williams has had to rebuild his career at club level.