Barbados international Mario Williams is set to join A-League Men side Macarthur FC, pending completion of a medical, sources have told ESPN.
Able to play in both the defensive midfield and centre-back positions, it is understood that Williams will land in Sydney's west on the recommendation of new Macarthur assistant Russell Latapy, who coached the 30-year-old when he was the national team boss of Barbados.
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It is understood that Latapy, who was appointed as fellow Trinidadian Dwight Yorke's assistant after coaching Barbados from 2019 to 2022, has vouched for Williams' ability to contribute at an ALM level despite his lack of exposure outside of his home region; believing that his talent hasn't been recognised due to external scepticism over Caribbean football's level.
Alongside Yorke, Latapy was a trailblazer for Caribbean footballers in Europe in the early 1990s, joining Portuguese side Academica in 1990 to make his breakthrough and going on to forge a 20-year career at clubs such as Porto, Hibernian, and Rangers.
Williams has made 34 appearances for the Tridents, including eight starts in 2022 -- captaining his nation in a 1-0 loss to Suriname in January. He has spent much of his club career playing in his homeland, as well as a brief stint in Antigua.
He would become the second Barbadian international to play in the A-League Men after former Wellington Phoenix star Paul Ifill who, though born in England, represented the island nation of his dad's birth and scored six goals in 10 games between 2004 and 2008.
Williams will become the second international player to land at Macarthur this offseason, joining Georgian international Bachana Arabuli in Campbelltown. The pair replace Jordon Mutch and Adrian Mariappa in the Bulls' foreign contingent alongside the returning Filip Kurto, Craig Noone and captain Ulises Davila.
Set to open their 2022-23 A-League Men campaign away to Brisbane Roar on Oct. 8, Yorke's side will meet NPL Victoria side the Oakleigh Cannons next Wednesday in the semifinals of the Australia Cup.
The club will have until 5 p.m. the day prior to register Williams if they want to include him in the side to take on the Cannons.