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Australia international Rhys Williams pens new four-and-a-half year deal with Middlesbrough
The highly sought after talent has signed a long-term deal with the promotion hopefuls and reiterated he is settled at the club and doesn't want to be a 'squad player' elsewhere
21 Feb 2012 08:09:00
By Ben Somerford
Getty Images
Promising Socceroo Rhys Williams has signed a new contract with English Championship promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough keeping him at Riverside Stadium until 2016.
The 23-year-old defender/midfielder has been a revelation for Boro in the past 12 months after returning from a long-term pelvic injury.
Williams' good form has attracted interest from Premier League clubs Newcastle, Liverpool, West Bromwich and Bolton, but the Socceroo has committed to Boro.
"I've always said I wanted to stay," he told the club's website. "I'm happy here and that's the main thing. I'm settled and get on well with the manager and the lads."
Boro boss Tony Mowbray said the Australian was a key part of the club's bid to return to the English top flight.
"Rhys is an important cog as we move forward trying to build a team to get us into the Premier League," he said.
"This is an important statement from the club to try to tie down one of the players we feel we can move forward with."
Perth-born Williams, whose previous deal was due to expire in 18 months, has been open about his Premier League dream and in the past hinted he could leave Boro to achieve that.
However, Williams indicated he didn't want to move elsewhere to be a "squad player" and said he was settled at Middlesbrough.
"I've no reason to leave except for my dream of playing in the Premier League - and I want to get there with his club. My fiance has settled here, I know the town and have a lot of friends here. I couldn't be happier, to be honest," he said.
Williams, who has been at Boro since he was 16, continued: "The manager knows what I'm capable of and what I'm not so good at.
"He sees me as a vital player. I don't want to leave and be a squad player somewhere else, I want to be hopefully a major player for this club.
"He's shown a lot of faith bringing in Jukey (Lukas Jutkiewcz) and trying to bring more players in. He's trying to build something here and I want to be a part of that."
The 23-year-old defender/midfielder has been a revelation for Boro in the past 12 months after returning from a long-term pelvic injury.
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Williams' good form has attracted interest from Premier League clubs Newcastle, Liverpool, West Bromwich and Bolton, but the Socceroo has committed to Boro.
"I've always said I wanted to stay," he told the club's website. "I'm happy here and that's the main thing. I'm settled and get on well with the manager and the lads."
Boro boss Tony Mowbray said the Australian was a key part of the club's bid to return to the English top flight.
"Rhys is an important cog as we move forward trying to build a team to get us into the Premier League," he said.
"This is an important statement from the club to try to tie down one of the players we feel we can move forward with."
Perth-born Williams, whose previous deal was due to expire in 18 months, has been open about his Premier League dream and in the past hinted he could leave Boro to achieve that.
However, Williams indicated he didn't want to move elsewhere to be a "squad player" and said he was settled at Middlesbrough.
"I've no reason to leave except for my dream of playing in the Premier League - and I want to get there with his club. My fiance has settled here, I know the town and have a lot of friends here. I couldn't be happier, to be honest," he said.
Williams, who has been at Boro since he was 16, continued: "The manager knows what I'm capable of and what I'm not so good at.
"He sees me as a vital player. I don't want to leave and be a squad player somewhere else, I want to be hopefully a major player for this club.
"He's shown a lot of faith bringing in Jukey (Lukas Jutkiewcz) and trying to bring more players in. He's trying to build something here and I want to be a part of that."
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|
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