The Scottish midfielder arrived at City under a bit of a storm cloud, from Nottingham Forest at least, with some of their fans unhappy at the way he left the City Ground for the Walkers Stadium in 2004. He came through the Forest youth system and was one of their better players before making the move to City. The transfer fee was decided by tribunal due to his age and being a free agent, a fee believed to be set at £1 million.

A Scottish international at U21 and senior level, making five appearances for the senior team, Williams made 78 appearances for City and scored six goals but many Foxes fans perceived him to be lazy during his time at the club.

He spent two and a half years at Leicester but, with his contract coming to an end, City sold him to then Premier League side Watford for a fee believed to be around £600,000 on transfer deadline day, January 31 2007.

The midfielder suffered a serious injury early in his Watford career and, after numerous further set-backs, announced his retirement from football late in 2010 after training with Major League Soccer sides San Jose Earthquakes and New England Revolution.