Bristol City have announced the permanent signing of midfielder Joe Williams from Wigan Athletic on a four year deal.
News of the Robins interest in Williams broke this weekend and Bristol Live understood that City were keen on move, with the likes of Middlesbrough, Leeds United and West Brom also thought to be interested.
However it's City who have swooped and today announced the signing of Williams for an undisclosed fee.
He is the first new face the come through the door at Ashton Gate this summer amid an uncertain transfer window and looks to be a good piece of business for City, with Williams one of the standout performers in the relegated Wigan side last season.
He comes in as a ready made replacement to former captain Korey Smith, who departed Ashton Gate last week to join Swansea City, and will add bite and tenacity to the midfield alongside the likes of Adam Nagy, Han-Noah Massengo, Liam Walsh and Joe Morrell.
Williams was announced in the clubs new away kit, a return to the purple and lime colours, and will now join the team at Failand where they have begun pre-season training, readying themselves for a friendly against Cheltenham Town on Friday (August 21).
City CEO Mark Ashton said: “We are thrilled to welcome Joe as our first signing of the transfer window. Joe is young, but he has Championship experience and he impressed us during the time we watched him at both Bolton and Wigan."
New head coach Dean Holden said: "“Joe is going to form a big part of our squad and so I’m delighted to have this opportunity to work with him, especially as we fought off competition from a number of big clubs.
“Joe is a quality passer of the ball, he is physical too and he has a winning mentality that is so important.”
The 24-year-old came through the youth ranks at Everton alongside Walsh, having loan spells at Barnsely and Bolton before a permanent switch to Wigan in 2019, where he made 38 appearances in the midfield.
