DETROIT – Detroit City FC has announced two new arrivals ahead of the 2024 USL Championship season with the signings of midfielders Ryan Williams and Daniel Espeleta, both of whom have signed a one-year contract with a club option for the 2025 season. The transactions are pending league and federation approval.

Williams joins the club with prior USL Championship experience having competed previously for Ottawa Fury FC and Hartford Athletic. A pro for more than a decade, Williams’ career began at age 17 when he graduated from the youth academy of Chester City, coming through to the First Team as the side competed in EFL League Two.

The 32-year-old competed in Wales from late 2009 to the middle of the 2012–13 season, appearing for Colwyn Bay, Llandudno (on loan), and Rhyl. He was named in the Cymru Alliance Team of the Year twice before joining EFL League Two club Morecambe FC in January 2013. He made more than 60 appearances over two-and-a-half years with the Shrimps, which earned the opportunity to move to current Premier League club Brentford FC, which was then competing in the EFL Championship then.

From there, Williams would have stints at Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Scottish Premiership, Paysandu of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B, and Tranmere Rovers of EFL League Two.

Between those stops, Williams signed for Ottawa Fury FC, where he made 20 appearances and scored five goals during the 2017 USL Championship season. He also competed for Hartford Athletic in its inaugural season in 2019, while most recently appearing for Swedish side AFC Eskilstuna in the country’s second division.

Espeleta joins the squad having impressed as a trialist this preseason. He found the back of the net in scrimmages against Inter Detroit and Forward Madison FC and won the penalty that Yazeed Matthews converted against Columbus Crew 2 during Le Rouge’s preseason slate.

Before coming to Detroit City FC, Espeleta played for Creighton University for four seasons between 2018 and 2021. During his four seasons, Espeleta appeared in 62 matches, starting 39, scoring five goals, including two game-winners, and notching three assists.

Espeleta then moved to Fordham as a Graduate transfer for the 2022 season where he recorded three goals and three assists in 15 appearances. Following the end of his collegiate career, Espeleta signed with the LA Force before heading to Costa Rica, where he made four appearances for Grecia of the in the Primera Division.