Leam Richardson has made his first signing as Reading manager – attacker Randell Williams.
The 28-year-old has joined the Royals on a short-term deal until January 2026. Williams joins as a free agent, having left Leyton Orient at the end of last season.
Who Is Randell Williams?
Randell Williams is something of journeyman, playing up and down the EFL.
He came through the Tottenham Hotspur Academy, before going into non-league football with Tower Hamlets in 2015. In 2016 he signed for Crystal Palace after a trial at the club.
He was released by the Eagles at the end of the 2016-17 season after failing to make any appearances for the first team, and signed for Watford.
After struggling to make their first team squad, he moved on loan to Wycombe Wanderers in January 2018 and helped them secure automatic promotion to League One during the first of two loan spells at the Chairboys, the second of which ended in January 2019.
Williams then moved to Exeter City on a free transfer. He had an impressive debut season, scoring five goals and making 14 assists, and won Player of the Season and Goal of the Season, awarded by the club. He was also named in the League Two Team of the Season.
Williams made his next move to Hull City on a free transfer in July 2021, but he soon moved on again, this time to Bolton Wanderers in June 2023 for an undisclosed fee.
The Trotters made the EFL Trophy final that season, but Williams was an unused substitute as they beat Plymouth 4-0. He went on to make 81 appearances for the club.
He signed for Leyton Orient in February 2025 on a short-term deal, scoring twice in 17 appearances, including coming off the bench in the League One play-off final, which Orient lost 1-0 to Charlton Athletic.
What will Randell Williams bring to Reading?
As well as bringing bags of experience, Randell Williams brings versatility – he can play either as a winger or a fullback.
His best spell came at Exeter, where he played right-wing back – a position that was new to him, he started his career as a right-sided midfielder – and played to his strengths; his speed and skill on the ball. He was top in League Two for assists during the 2019-20 season, and only Kevin De Bruyne had more assists than him at one point.
During an interview with Exeter’s website, Williams credited the coaching staff at Exeter with improving his game.
‘I have done a lot of work with Wayne [Carlisle, former Exeter player] and he has been a great mentor for me, just every day doing extras with me and trying to make me the best I can be.
‘Wayno [Wayne Carlisle] has really taken me under his wing and really tried to hammer down things about getting consistent on deliveries and finishing and it is slowly paying off.’
Reading currently sit 20th in League One with 16 points. They have lost eight of their 14 matches so far, and picked up only five wins across the league and cups.
This is the Royals’ first full season under their new owners, Redwood Holdings, and it has been tumultuous so far.
Former manager Noel Hunt was sacked in October 2025 after only three wins, and a loss in the FA Cup to National League side Carlisle United.
The squad has been beset by injuries and criticized for a lack of fitness and poor game management.
They have only scored 15 goals so far, something that Leam Richardson will be hoping that Randell Williams can help rectify.
‘Randell is a good person and a good professional that knows the level,’ Richardson told Reading’s website.
‘He played in the play-offs over the last couple of years, has a good CV, and is very adaptable and flexible with his positioning.
‘He is somebody, as a person and as a player, who we thought would add to our group, we are in transition with the squad.’
Reading need to bolster their attacking options, and Randell Williams needs game time. This could be a good deal for both sides.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments.
