With the news of Ashley Williams signing for Everton for £12million, I take a look at the Welshman career and compare him to Phil Jagielka and Ramiro Funes Mori.
The 31-year-old has ended an eight-year association with Swansea, where he helped the side to the Premier League and captained the side in the top flight. He links up at Goodison Park following the confirmation of John Stones’ departure, who signed for Manchester City this morning for £47.5million.
Vs Jagielka and Funes Mori
Now going into his tenth season in the top flight, Everton captain Phil Jagielka remains the most experienced of the three, with Williams entering his sixth season, bu his first away from Swansea. Funes Mori enters only his second, having joined Everton last summer.
| Ashley Williams | Phil Jagielka | Ramiro Funes Mori | |
| Age | 31 (32 this August) | 33 (34 this August) | 25 (26 next March) |
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) |
| Weight | 77kg | 83kg | 74kg |
| Club Caps | 544 | 517 | 103 |
| Club Goals | 17 | 28 | 11 |
| Int. Caps | 65 | 39 | 13 |
| Int. Goals | 2 | 3 | 0 |
*League appearances and senior international cap used.
Last season Williams played the most of the three, appearing in 36 games, whilst Funes Mori played 28 times. Jagielka played just 21 times, as he struggled with injuries throughout the season.
He did, however, have the lowest duel success percentage (53%), compared to Jagielka’s (56%) and Funes Mori’s (60%). He also fell behind in terms of headed duels, though, he came out on top with tackles won (53%) to The Toffees’ skipper (48%) and the Argentine’s (52%).
The Welshman also beat his counterparts with defensive actions, he averaged 13 per game, whilst Jagielka averaged 12 and Funes Mori 11. Although, he committed the most defensive errors (4), with the pair committing the same between them.
Funes Mori proved the most dangerous in the opposition’s box, scoring four goals (one every seven games). Williams scored two, with Jagielka failing to score in the 21 league games he played.
Just 20.9% of Williams passes were directed backwards last season, considerably lower than Jagielka’s 25.2% and Funes Mori’s 25.4%. Ronald Koeman did reiterate in pre-season he doesn’t like to see his defenders looking to play back to the goalkeeper too much.
Jagielka finished the season with the cleanest disciplinary record, with no cards, Funes Mori ended with four yellows and a red card, whilst Williams was warned with eight yellow cards, last term.
Profile
After being released from West Brom, Williams found himself playing for Hednesford in 2001, where he’s had to work his way up the English football pyramid to find himself where he is now.
Now 31-years-old, Williams is regarded as one of the most underrated defenders in the Premier League.
In a career that’s spanned for around 15 years, Williams also captains his country where he’s led the side, most recently, to the semi-final of EURO 2016.
Career
Williams found himself released from West Brom’s academy at just 16, before joining Conference side, Hednesford Town. After his first season with the club, Williams was to play the 2001/02 season at an even lower level – following the club’s relegation.
Two years into his career, with Hednesford, Williams made a move to Stockport County where he’d be playing in the second division.
For the start of the 2007/08 season, Williams was named as Stockport’s captain for the season, the club had suffered relegation after his debut season and had failed in a bid for League 1 football, once again.
However, as captain, Williams left the club in March, two months before the end of the season. He joined Swansea City on loan, who played in League 1, a league higher, and went on to play three times as The Swans won the league.
In the summer of 2008, Williams made a permanent switch to Swansea, in a move worth £400,000.
After two years of being a regular at Swansea, and finishing just outside of the play-off places, Williams played in all 46 Championship games, and three playoff games, of the 2010/11 season as his side won promotion to the Premier League via Wembley.
For the start of the season following promotion, Williams was captain for the majority of club games and was also named as Wales’ captain.
Now five years into life in the Premier League, Williams has established himself as one of the most reliable and underrated players in the top flight.
