Eryk Williamson Bio
Eryk Tyrek Williamson (born June 11, 1997) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club Charlotte FC. He attended the University of Maryland, where he played in the 2015–2017 seasons, appearing in 58 matches and scoring 14 goals. Williamson first rose to wider attention as a member of the D.C. United Academy before joining the Portland Timbers in January 2018, where he contributed to the club’s success in domestic tournaments and later represented the United States at senior international level.
Early Life and Background
Eryk Tyrek Williamson was born on June 11, 1997, in Alexandria, Virginia, in the United States. Growing up in the Virginia area placed him in close range of one of Major League Soccer’s flagship youth development systems, and he channeled his early interest in soccer through organized training from a young age. His path through local youth soccer eventually carried him into the academy setup of a professional club.
Williamson joined the D.C. United Academy as a youth player, working his way through the ranks in the nation’s capital. Because he was registered with an MLS academy, he was not eligible for the MLS SuperDraft, the league’s traditional entry route for college players. That detail shaped the next stage of his development, as his professional pathway would come through a trade rather than the draft.
Path to Soccer
After his academy years with D.C. United, Williamson took the college route and enrolled at the University of Maryland, where he suited up for the Maryland Terrapins men’s soccer program across three seasons from 2015 to 2017. In 58 appearances for the Terrapins, he scored 14 goals, building the résumé that would later catch the attention of Major League Soccer scouts.
In 2017, his final college season, Williamson was recognized as the Big Ten Midfielder of the Year and earned a place on the All-Big Ten First Team, honors that confirmed his standing among the top college midfielders in the country. That same year he also represented the United States at the U-20 level, helping the team win the 2017 CONCACAF U-20 Championship and appearing at the U-20 World Cup. Those performances convinced the Portland Timbers to acquire him, and in January 2018 he was traded to the organization.
Eryk Williamson Career
Early Career (2018)
Williamson’s professional career began inside the Portland Timbers organization in 2018. He made his professional debut with Portland Timbers 2 on April 4, 2018, against Tulsa, and netted his first professional goal on May 12, 2018, against Tacoma. That same year he was also sent on loan to Portuguese side Santa Clara, adding a brief international stint to his developmental curve.
He made his first appearance for the Portland Timbers senior team on June 2, 2018, coming off the bench against the Los Angeles Galaxy. Although he was briefly linked with a move to German club Schalke in early 2018, no formal offer was ever made, and Williamson remained in Portland to continue his progression.
Portland Timbers Breakthrough (2019–2020)
Williamson earned his first senior start for the Timbers on June 26, 2019, against Montreal, marking his transition from substitute to regular contributor. The 2020 season then became the defining stretch of his early top-flight career. He scored his first MLS goal on September 20, 2020, against Seattle, a rivalry fixture that gave the moment extra weight for the Portland fanbase.
That same summer, Williamson was a key member of the Portland Timbers squad that won the MLS is Back Tournament in 2020, a single-site competition held during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. The triumph gave him his first major piece of senior team silverware and cemented his place in the Timbers’ first-team plans heading into the following season.
Portland Timbers Prime (2021–2024)
Williamson opened the 2021 MLS season in outstanding form, highlighted by a two-assist performance against San Jose that earned him a place on the MLS Team of the Matchday. His play in central midfield helped Portland remain competitive in the Western Conference and reaffirmed his importance to the team’s buildup play.
Across the 2021 to 2024 window, Williamson served as a consistent starter and creative hub for the Timbers, contributing goals and assists in league play while continuing to represent the United States at the international level. By the end of his Portland run, he had become one of the club’s longest-tenured midfielders and a familiar face for fans in the Rose City.
Charlotte FC Era (2025–Present)
On January 15, 2025, Williamson was traded to Charlotte FC in exchange for $100,000 in General Allocation Money, opening a new chapter of his career in the Eastern Conference. The move gave him the opportunity to take on a leading midfield role with an expansion-era club looking to establish itself among the league’s contenders.
At Charlotte FC, Williamson is expected to provide experience, ball progression, and set-piece quality in the middle of the park. The transition paired him with a young squad aiming to climb the standings, with his national team pedigree adding veteran presence to the locker room.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the signature moments of Williamson’s career, the 2020 MLS is Back Tournament triumph stands out as his first major senior trophy, while his first Timbers goal against Seattle in September 2020 marked a memorable rivalry milestone. At the international level, his senior debut for the United States on July 11, 2021, against Haiti, in a CONCACAF Gold Cup match, remains a career-defining cap, followed later that summer by his place in the squad that won the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Eryk Williamson Career Wins
Eryk Williamson’s trophy case reflects both club and international success across youth and senior levels. He has lifted continental and regional honors with the United States national team setup and contributed to a notable domestic tournament victory at club level.
Major Wins and Performances
Williamson was part of the United States U-20 team that won the 2017 CONCACAF U-20 Championship in his final year before turning professional. He later played a role in the Portland Timbers’ run to the 2020 MLS is Back Tournament title, the franchise’s headline silverware during the pandemic-era schedule.
At senior international level, Williamson was a member of the United States squad that won the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup, adding a senior continental trophy to his résumé. In college, his individual awards, including Big Ten Midfielder of the Year and All-Big Ten First Team honors in 2017, marked him as one of the top midfielders in the country that season.
Eryk Williamson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Eryk Tyrek Williamson was raised in Alexandria, Virginia, and is the cousin of the singer, actress, and producer Queen Latifah. That family connection links the midfielder to one of the most prominent entertainment figures in American popular culture.
Personal Life
Williamson has spent his professional years split between Portland, Oregon, during his time with the Timbers, and Charlotte, North Carolina, after his 2025 trade to Charlotte FC. He maintains a public profile on social media, where he is active under the handle associated with his playing name, Eryk Williamson.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 campaign marks Williamson’s first season with Charlotte FC following his January trade from Portland. He joins the Eastern Conference side as an established MLS midfielder with more than half a decade of top-flight experience and senior international caps for the United States.
Across the early months of the year, Williamson has slotted into a central midfield role for Charlotte, looking to bring creativity, ball-carrying, and set-piece delivery to a club aiming to move up the table. His familiarity with the league’s tactical demands, built across seven seasons in Portland, is expected to accelerate his integration with new teammates and coaching staff.
With the playoff picture taking shape in the second half of the year, Williamson’s form, fitness, and chemistry with Charlotte’s attack will be central to the team’s ambitions. A strong run through the summer and fall could position both player and club for a push toward the MLS Cup Playoffs in his first season at the club.