Updated through December 12, 2020
Columbus (2020): Williams made 12 regular-season appearances (11 starts at center-back). The defender started against the New York Red Bulls* (July 16) during the Group Stage of the MLS is Back Tournament. Additionally, that was Williams’ only appearance during the MLS is Back Tournament. Williams then started at home against Chicago Fire FC (August 20) and provided his first regular-season assist of 2020 on Derrick Etienne Jr.'s 20th-minute goal. The defender started consecutive matches on the road against FC Cincinnati (August 29), at home against Philadelphia Union (September 2) and at home against FC Cincinnati (September 6). Williams made starts on the road against Chicago Fire FC (September 12) and also at home against Minnesota United FC (September 23) before making four consecutive appearances (three starts) from September 27 through the October 14 match at FC Cincinnati. He returned to the starting lineup at home against Atlanta United (November 8), playing all 90 minutes. In Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs action, Williams made four starts at home: against the New York Red Bulls (November 21), against Nashville SC (November 29), against the New England Revolution (December 6) and against Seattle Sounders FC (December 12) during MLS Cup 2020.
* MLS is Back Tournament Group Stage matches counted towards the 2020 MLS regular season
2019 (Columbus): Josh Williams made 16 regular-season appearances (12 starts at centerback, three at rightback) in 2019 and scored two goals. He made his 2019 regular-season debut in a home match against Atlanta United (March 30). Williams played all 90 minutes and helped the Club record its third shutout of the 2019 regular season. Williams recorded his first goal - a game winning goal - of the 2019 season during the 42nd minute of a home match against the New England Revolution (April 6). Williams returned to the starting lineup and played all 90 minutes of a home contest against D.C. United (April 24). Williams made two consecutive starts for the Black & Gold, playing all 90 minutes, during a home contest against the LA Galaxy (May 8) and a road contest against Minnesota United FC (May 18). Williams made a substitute appearance in the 43rd minute of a road contest at the Colorado Rapids (May 25), coming in for Hector Jimenez. He started and played 75 minutes of a home contest against New York City FC (June 1). Williams returned to the starting XI for the Black & Gold and recorded two consecutive starts against the Seattle Sounds (July 6) and during a road contest against Orlando City SC (July 13). He returned to the starting lineup and recorded his second goal of the 2019 regular-season during a home contest against the Montreal Impact (July 20). He returned to the starting lineup in a home match against Toronto FC (August 17) and in a road contest against FC Cincinnati (August 25). Williams started in Crew SC's final two regular-season matches against the Philadelphia Union (September 29( and Toronto FC (October 6). He did not make an appearance in the 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
2018 (Columbus): Josh Williams made 21 regular-season appearances (16 starts as a centerback) for Crew SC this season. He came in as a substitute in the 46th minute in a home match against D.C. United (March 24), and he played 89 minutes in his first start of the 2018 regular season against the Chicago Fire (April 7), before making two more consecutive starts. Williams returned to the starting lineup and played all 90 minutes in a road match against Seattle Sounders FC (May 5) and in a home match against the Chicago Fire (May 12), helping Crew SC register shutouts in both matches. He came in as a substitute in a road match against the New England Revolution (May 19), making his 100th regular-season appearance for Crew SC. Williams returned to the starting lineup in a road match against Sporting Kansas City (May 27) and was named to MLSSoccer.com’s Team of the Week for his efforts. He also started in the following two home matches against Toronto FC (June 2) and the New York Red Bulls (June 9). He did not make an appearance in a road match against Los Angeles FC (June 23) or a home match against Real Salt Lake (June 30) after being listed as questionable with a concussion. Williams started in an international friendly at home against Costa Rican side Deportivo Saprissa (July 3), scoring a goal in the 32nd minute. He started in regular-season action in consecutive matches from a road match against the LA Galaxy (July 7) to a road match against the New York Red Bulls (July 28). He returned to the starting lineup in a road match against the Chicago Fire (August 23). Williams made a substitute appearance in a home match against New York City FC (September 1) and in a road match against the Portland Timbers (September 19). He returned to the starting lineup in a home match against the Colorado Rapids (September 22). Williams made a substitute appearance in a home match against the Philadelphia Union (September 29). He returned to the starting lineup in a road match against the Montreal Impact (October 6). Williams made one appearance (one start) for Crew SC in the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs. He started in an Eastern Conference Semifinals home match against the New York Red Bulls (November 4). Williams did not make an appearance in the 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
2017 (Columbus): Williams made 22 appearances (19 starts), all as a centerback, and scored three goals. He made his season debut on the road at D.C. United (March 18) as a starter, helping the Black & Gold keep a clean sheet. Williams made his 75th MLS regular-season appearance for Crew SC as a starter in a home contest against the New England Revolution (May 6). Williams made his 100th career MLS start (112 appearances) in a home contest against the Montreal Impact (June 24). Williams made a substitute appearance in an international friendly match at home against Eintracht Frankfurt, wearing the captain’s armband after Wil Trapp was subbed out (July 14). He started in a home match against the Chicago Fire (August 12), making his 75th start for the club. Williams started in a home match against the New York Red Bulls (September 23) and scored his first goal of the 2017 MLS regular season - the game winner - to earn a spot on MLSSoccer.com’s Team of the Week. He started in the following home match against D.C. United (September 30) and scored the game-winning goal, his second of the season. Williams started in a road contest against New York City FC (October 22) and scored his third goal of 2017, tying his career-best number of goals in a single regular season. Williams made five appearances (all starts) at centerback in the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs.
2016 (Toronto FC): Williams made 24 regular season appearances (11 starts) during his second year with Toronto FC – all as a centerback – en route to capturing the 2016 Eastern Conference Championship. He made his season debut in an away game against New York City FC, coming on as a substitute (March 13). During a home match against New York City FC, he provided an assist in the 42nd minute to generate the tying goal in a 1-1 draw (May 18). Williams reached his 100th MLS regular season appearance in a 1-0 victory at home against Real Salt Lake (August 4). Of the 11 matches he started in, Toronto FC won eight of those, keeping three clean sheets Williams did not make any appearances in the 2016 Amway Canadian Championship.
2015 (New York City/Toronto): Williams was traded to New York City FC in exchange for allocation funds (December 2014). He made five appearances (five starts) for New York City FC, all as a rightback. Williams made his debut for New York City FC as a starter in the season opener against Orlando City SC (March 8). On July 31, 2015 Toronto FC acquired Williams. He made 12 appearances for the club during the regular season (12 starts), all as a center back. Williams debut for Toronto FC came in an away match against the New York Red Bulls (August 16). He made an appearance in the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs Knockout Round against Toronto FC, playing all 90 minutes (October 30). Williams made no appearances in the 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
2014 (Columbus): Williams made 14 appearances (13 starts) at rightback and recorded one assist. He started the 2014 Opening Match against D.C. United (March 8) and picked-up a game-winning assist on Jairo Arrieta’s game-winning goal. He started in each of the club’s first 11 matches in 2014 and made his first substitute appearance of the season in the 2-0 win over Chicago (May 24). He was placed on the disabled list on July 18 following a surgery to remove a rib following a blood clot and was forced to miss a League minimum six matches. He was removed from the disabled list ahead of the match against New England (September 20). He did not dress for the club’s postseason opener against New England (November 1), but he made his return to the pitch in a second-half substitute role in the second leg at New England (November 9). Williams made one appearance in the 2014 Lamar Hunt U.S Open Cup and started in the Black & Gold’s 2-1 victory over Indy Eleven (June 17), but did not travel for the match at Chicago in the Fifth Round (June 25) while nursing an injury.
2013 (Columbus): Williams made 27 appearances, including 25 starts (19 starts at rightback and six at centerback), recording a career-high three goals, all off of set pieces. He scored his first goal of the season – and second career goal -- on an 88th-minute tally at Chivas USA (March 2). Williams scored his second goal of the season in a road contest at D.C. United (March 23). His third goal of the season -- his first career tally at MAPFRE Stadium – came off of a Federico Higuain corner kick in the match against D.C. United (April 27). He missed two matches with left calf inflammation against Houston (June 1) and at Philadelphia (June 5), but returned to action with his first start of the season at centerback against Montreal (June 15) and made three consecutive starts at centerback before returning to right back at LA (July 4). Williams started at rightback in the international friendly against Wigan Athletic (July 13). He suffered a knock in training the day before the match against Houston (September 4), and missed three additional matches with a concussion: at Sporting KC (September 7) at Montreal (September 14) and against Chicago (September 21). Later, he returned to action in a substitute appearance at FC Dallas (September 29) and returned to the starting lineup in the regular-season finale against New England (October 27). Williams made no appearances in the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
2012 (Columbus): Williams made 30 regular season appearances (27 starts) in 2012, playing as a leftback (15), a centerback (15), and a right back (1). He tallied one goal and three assists. Williams made his MLS Regular Season debut as a substitute in a home contest against Montreal (March 24). He made his first regular season career start against the Houston Dynamo (April 21). His first assist came in a home match against Real Salt Lake (July 1). Williams second assist came during an away game against Sporting Kansas City, as he set up the winning goal in the 17th minute (July 29). His first goal of the season came in a road game against the Philadelphia Union, as he headed in the leveling goal (August 30). Williams contributed his third assist of the season in a 3-2 home win against the Philadelphia Union, as he set up the winning goal in the 87th minute (September 30). He made an appearance in the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as a substitute against the Dayton Dutch Lions FC (May 30 ).
2011 (Columbus): In his first full season with Columbus, Williams missed 19 matches due to injury (Hip strain). He started in six matches in the MLS Reserve League.
2010 (Columbus): Williams signed with Columbus Crew SC on September 15, 2010 as a Discovery Signing. He did not make any appearances during his rookie season. The defender made his Crew SC debut at Municipal on September 29, playing 68 minutes in the CONCACAF Champions League. He also started at Joe Public (October 21).
COLLEGE EXPERIENCE
Williams played four seasons for Cleveland State University, making 74 appearances (74 starts), scoring 12 goals and providing eight assists. He was the Vikings’ captain during his junior and senior year. Williams was named to the All-Horizon League Newcomer Team his freshman year (2006). Made the Horizon All-League Tournament Team as a junior (2008). Williams tied for the team scoring lead his senior year with six goals and was named to the Division I All-Ohio Team, All-Horizon League First Team, and the All-Pac 12 First-Team (2009). Williams also made 40 appearances for the Cleveland Internationals in the USL Professional Development League.
ACQUIRED
Columbus Crew SC signs defender Josh Williams on January 5, 2017.
Name: Josh Williams
Position: Defender
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 185
Born: April 4, 1988 in Akron, OH
Hometown: Copley, OH
Citizenship: United States
Acquired: Columbus Crew SC signs defender Josh Williams on January 5, 2017 after having selected him in Stage Two of the 2016 MLS Re-Entry Draft.
Previous Experience: Toronto FC (2015-2016), New York City FC (2015), Columbus Crew SC (2010-2014)
PERSONAL
Williams is the son of Steve and Kathy Williams. In his spare time, he enjoys going to dinner and movies as well as playing with his dog, Reggie. Williams enjoys reading autobiographies, including his favorite, “I am Zlatan.” He is a fan of thriller movies and comedies and his go-to flicks are ones Jim Carrey stars in. Williams lists making his professional debut for the Black & Gold as his favorite soccer memory. He enjoys traveling to Florida with his family and his favorite vacation spot is the Bahamas. In high school, he played baseball soccer and basketball at the varsity level. His soccer idol is Sergio Ramos. Played with Brad Stuver at Cleveland State University and for the Cleveland Internationals.
