HARTFORD, Conn. – Hartford Athletic announced on Thursday the club had signed veteran forward Romario Williiams ahead of the 2024 USL Championship season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

Williams joins Hartford after a season in which he equaled his single-season high in the USL Championship with 15 goals for Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC during the 2023 regular season. Williams helped lead the Switchbacks to a third consecutive postseason berth while averaging a goal every 120.7 minutes with a shooting accuracy rate of 60 percent and shot conversion rate of 33.3 percent.

A native of Portmore, Jamaica, Williams has been one of the most prolific forwards in the Championship’s history. He ranks tied for 19th in the Championship with 56 goals in 123 regular season appearances at a strike rate of a goal every 140.5 minutes. The 29-year-old’s strike rate places him third in Championship regular season history among players with at least 50 regular season goals, led by only Cameron Lancaster (113.9 mins/goal) and Cal Jennings (128.5 mins/goal).

Williams play for Colorado Springs earned him a recall to Jamaica’s Men’s National Team late last year for the side’s Concacaf Nations League contests as the Reggae Boyz qualified for the tournament’s final stage in March, and the 2024 Copa America. In addition to his time in the USL Championship with the Charleston Battery, Atlanta United 2 and New Mexico United, Williams also competed in Major League Soccer for Atlanta United FC and the Columbus Crew.

Analysis

Having accumulated numerous wide options for its rejuvenated squad, Hartford Athletic’s addition of Romario Williams as its No. 9 is the next step in building what should be an exciting attack during Head Coach Brendan Burke’s first season at the helm. Williams has bounced between the USL Championship and Major League Soccer – while also competing for a stint overseas in Egypt and Kuwait – but has regularly shown himself to be a fine finisher and hold-up player.

Bringing prior chemistry from this past season with winger Deshane Beckford – who also competed in Colorado Springs this past season – and the potential of service from Enoch Mushagalusa. Danny Barrera and Marcus Epps among others, Williams will be expected to challenge his single-season total of 15 goals this past season. If all goes well, that bar could quickly rise.