Derrick Williams’ move to LA Galaxy made sense for all parties, according to Tony Mowbray.

Williams saw his contract cancelled by Rovers on Thursday to facilitate his move the MLS side where he signed a two-year deal, with the option of a further 12 months.

That brought an end to the 28-year-old’s time at Ewood Park, having signed for the club in the summer of 2016 from Bristol City and went on to play 152 times.

That included being named player of the year in his debut season, as well as playing 45 of the 46 games in the League One promotion campaign in 2017/18.

Injuries have blighted Williams since the start of the 2020 however, and he managed just 11 appearances this season before undergoing surgery in December.

With his contract set to expire in the summer, and unlikely to play again before the season was over, as well as Williams’ desire to make the move happen, Mowbray says it the right decision to make.

He explained: “I think it was in Derrick’s mind, that’s what he wanted to do, he wanted a fresh change in his life.

“His life situation changed a little bit with his family, he’s got an American passport and it’s something he wanted to explore.

“It came our way, he has been injured for a long time, I know he started some games at the start of this season, but he’s injured for a long part of this season and is still injured.

“I didn’t want to stand in his way, the club didn’t want to stand in his way and the opportunity came and the deal has been done.

“We wish him well, thank him for all the good stuff he’s done for us over the four years I’ve been here and I’ll follow his career moving forward.”

Williams has had interest from LA Galaxy as well as DC United for much of the last year, and a departure was on the cards last year.

However, he remained at Rovers and started the season in excellent form alongside Darragh Lenihan, only for injury to again disrupt his campaign.

On the move, Mowbray added: “It was an opportunity for Derrick to go to Los Angeles, he was coming out of contract, good luck to him, it’s a fantastic life change for him.

“Over four years he’s done exceptionally well, he’s got himself up to international level, he developed a good relationship with Darragh (Lenihan).

“He played at left back for the first few years but has picked up a few injuries in the last few years and hasn’t played much football at all over the last year and he’s still injured as we sit here today.

“Galaxy are taking him injured and I’m not sure he would have played any football for us before the end of the season before he’d have been out of contract so it made sense for us and Derrick for him to mutually agree to go to LA and finish his rehab there and get going when their season starts.”

Williams holds an American passport so won’t need to be added as an international player on the Galaxy roster ahead of the 2021 MLS season which gets underway on April 17.

The defender says a move to MLS was always something on his radar and is excited by the opportunity.

Posting on Instagram after the move was confirmed, Williams wrote: “I want to thank everyone at Blackburn Rovers. The people at the club, the fans and all the lads I’ve played with. Been a great four-and-a-half years with memories I will never forget. Wish everyone all the very best and thanks for your support.”