Wednesday 20 April 2016 12:51, UK
Rhys Williams will leave Middlesbrough at the end of the season and return home to Australia to play for Perth Glory.
The midfielder has been with the Sky Bet Championship club since 2005 but his time in England has been plagued by injury, having made only 141 starts in that time.
Williams had a spell on loan with Charlton Athletic earlier this season and will move to Glory for the 2016-17 season, joining his younger brother Aryn in their squad.
"I'm very excited to come home to Perth and join [head coach] Kenny Lowe whom I've known for many years. He's been a mentor to me since I was a teenager," Williams said on Perth Glory's official website.
"After 11 years in the UK, the opportunity to re-unite with my family and re-join a manager who believes in me and my football is the tonic I need for my career.
"I know a lot of the boys at the club since our ECU Joondalup days and I really can't wait until the pre-season starts. I think Perth Glory fans can look forward to an exciting year ahead with so many Western Australia boys in the line-up."
Lowe is pleased to have a player with Williams' experience on board, and added: "We know what Rhys can do. He's been captain of Middlesbrough; he's played for the Socceroos (Australia national team) and has the qualities and attributes we want as a player and as a person.
"They're all elements which tie in with our current recruitment philosophy. It's exciting for him, exciting for us and I think it's exciting for the fans and members as well."
