Former Manchester United star released just five minutes into play

After only five minutes on the pitch, Brandon Williams – former MU player – was let go by Hull City in a mutual deal, adding another sad chapter to his stormy career.

At 25 years old, Brandon Williams had not played professional football for 20 months and faced 14 months of unemployment before impressing enough to sign with Hull City in August 2025.

However, this was not a turning point for the player who once earned around £3.4 million annually. He only appeared for 5 minutes off the bench in a match against Blackburn Rovers in August. Since November, Williams has not been included in any matchday squad lists.

At the end of the winter transfer window, Williams officially left the club. Hull City’s announcement stated: “Hull City confirms that defender Brandon Williams has departed the club by mutual consent. We thank Brandon for his contributions during his time at the MKM Stadium and wish him all the best in his future career.”

This news is very disappointing for Williams. He had just secured his first professional contract after a suspended sentence. In May 2025, Williams was sentenced to 14 months suspended imprisonment with a two-year probation following a car accident on August 20, 2023. The English defender was convicted of dangerous driving after operating an Audi A3 at nearly 160 km/h, causing a serious crash.

In May, Williams admitted he wanted to fully dedicate himself to football again and seek a fresh start at a new club. “Watching football now is heartbreaking because all I want is to play. I miss the feeling of being partof a team, moving with the squad, living together, and getting on the pitch,” Williams said.

Unfortunately, Williams failed to perform well enough to remain at Hull City. This is yet another setback in his turbulent career. He was once promoted to the first team at Manchester United under manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer during the 2019/2020 season and initially made a strong impression before gradually losing his place. He was later loaned out to Norwich City and Ipswich Town before leaving the club when his contract expired in June 2024.

Williams came through Manchester United’s Carrington academy and made a total of 51 appearances for the first team. Initially, he stood out for his energy and ability to use both feet well. However, over time, issues with his skills and tactical understanding became apparent, leading subsequent managers like Ralf Rangnick and Erik Ten Hag to overlook him.

With Hull City terminating his contract, Williams must return to unemployment, a state that has become increasingly familiar to him in recent years.