Soon-to-be former Liverpool defender Rhys Williams has been training with Red Bull New York at the club's new facility in Morristown, N.J., during the World Cup break.
Williams, 25, was visible on the pitch during an open part of practice to the media on Wednesday.
He was seen practicing with the first team and participated in several drills while the media looked on, South Ward Central reported .
Rhys Williams of Liverpool looks to make a play upfield during their win over Crystal Palace in Premier League play at Anfield on May 23, 2021 in Liverpool, England. Getty Images
Williams will be without a club after his contract with Liverpool expires on June 30, and Red Bulls head coach Michael Bradley said Wednesday that they would talk with Williams and his agent about "what makes the most sense."
"Rhys has made a really positive impression. He's come in and he's had a great attitude. He's fit in really well with the group," Bradley said following Wednesday's training. "We have a really good group in terms of opening their arms to new players, to guys that come in, so that part has been great. We'll continue to evaluate over this next period how to make our team better in every way. Rhys' experience in the game are potentially of big value. We'll spend the time with him. We'll discuss with him and his agent what makes the most sense and we'll go from there."
Williams has been with the Liverpool organization since he played U-10s. He later signed a professional contract in 2019. He helped the club's FA Youth Cup squad win in 2019 and a year later made his first team debut under Jürgen Klopp, who is the head of global soccer for Red Bull.
The defender made 19 first-team appearances, which came in 2020-2021, and has been out on loan several times since 2021, including stops in Swansea, Blackpool, Aberdeen, Port Vale and Morecambe, which is in the lower level of English soccer.
Bradley said he has an open line of communication with Klopp.
"As a club and as an organization, we are really lucky to have Jürgen and his experience and his network, so we always try to use that in the most advantageous way possible," Bradley said.
The Red Bulls sit in fifth place at the World Cup break.
