By: Battery Media
The Charleston Battery announced Wednesday the signing of forward Augustine Williams (right) to the 2022 roster, pending league and federation approval. A prolific goal scorer and 2020 All-League selection, the Sierra Leone international joins the club ahead of the Breeze Airways Carolina Challenge Cup after competing in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
“I'm excited to be here in Charleston and I can't wait to get to work, the Battery are a great club with a great history behind it,” said Williams. “I'm happy to be a part of the team now and to contribute to making history with this amazing club.”
The 24-year-old will look to continue the momentum he had with San Diego Loyal last season, on loan from LA Galaxy after seven matches in Major League Soccer. Williams tallied six goals, three assists and 10 chances created in 19 games with San Diego. The 6-2 striker regularly displayed the dangerous precision he poses with his feet and in the air.
On the international stage, Williams debuted with the Leone Stars on June 15, 2021, during AFCON qualification against Benin, where he helped the side qualify for the tournament for the first time in 26 years. The forward was again called up to Sierra Leone's squad for AFCON in January.
Williams has made three total appearances for Sierra Leone and believes his experiences with the national team have helped refine him for his 2022 campaign.
“Being at the Africa Cup of Nations was an amazing feeling and something I'll cherish for the rest of my life,” said Williams. “It has shaped me into a different player, mentally and physically. Being there and learning everything I did, I believe it all has helped a lot in preparing me for a successful USL Championship season.”
Williams burst onto the scene in 2020 at LA Galaxy II with a breakout campaign that earned him First Team All-League honors. Augustine finished second in the league's Golden Boot race with 13 goals for Los Dos. He played a crucial role in earning his side a spot in the Playoffs, scoring seven goals in their final seven games, and was named the squad's player of the year.
“Augustine is somebody we've had our eye on from day one, he’s had a lot of success so far in his career, scoring a lot of goals in a lot of different ways,” said Battery Head Coach Conor Casey. “In addition to being a solid player, he's also a remarkable person. He is going to be a great leader within the locker room with all the qualities and attributes he possesses.”
Prior to Los Angeles, Williams signed his first professional contract with Portland Timbers 2 in 2016 where he scored 11 goals across all competitions from 2016 to 2018. He made his Portland Timbers debut in the U.S. Open Cup against the Seattle Sounders in 2017, scoring their lone goal in the match.
The forward has registered 37 goals and 11 assists across six seasons in the USL Championship with Portland, Los Angeles and San Diego.
Williams is a native of Freetown, Sierra Leone, and grew up in the Bay Area in California. He looks forward to meeting the Charleston community in his East Coast adventure.
“I can't wait to see the fans, interact with them and also bring them joy as they support us, so we can all have success at the end of the day,” said Williams.
Williams becomes the eighth new player added to the roster ahead of the 2022 season.
