Ahead of Saturday’s Premier League 2 Division One meeting with Chelsea, Crystal Palace U21s midfielder Seb Williams reflected on the season so far, the growing trust placed in him by Darren Powell, and the squad’s ambitions heading into the second half of the campaign.
This game will NOT be streamed live on Palace TV+ on Saturday owing to our first-team clash with Macclesfield FC in the FA Cup – click HERE to learn more about Palace TV+ and subscribe today!
However, live updates will be available via the club’s Academy X account, with a full match report and post-match reaction published shortly after full-time on the Academy section of the club website.
Highlights will also be available on Palace TV+.
Scoring against Juventus was special
—Seb Williams
The young Eagles concluded 2025 sitting 12th in the Premier League 2 table, while also keeping their Premier League International Cup hopes alive thanks to impressive victories over Juventus and FC Nordsjælland.
Although Palace exited the EFL Trophy with a solitary point from the group stage, Williams believes there has been plenty of positives to build on.
“I think the season’s been a positive one overall,” Williams said. “I didn’t play much at the start, but since then I’ve had a good run of games in the team, which has really helped me build momentum.”
The midfielder has enjoyed several standout moments during the campaign, including making his first U21s start and finding the net on the European stage.
“I’ve had a few personal highlights so far,” he added. “Getting my first start for the U21s against AFC Wimbledon was a big moment, and of course scoring against Juventus in the Premier League International Cup was special.”
With the talent we have in the squad, we can be doing better
—Seb Williams
After beginning the season largely as an impact substitute, Williams has featured prominently of late, starting three of Palace’s final four matches of 2025 against Aston Villa, Juventus and FC Nordsjælland.
That increased involvement has come with added responsibility, something Williams feels has been driven by Powell’s belief in him.
“There’s definitely been more responsibility given to me,” he explained. “I’ve been given the opportunity and shown trust by the manager. Now it’s about repaying that faith and showing why they’ve believed in me.”
Palace’s Premier League 2 campaign began encouragingly, with the side going unbeaten in their opening three fixtures before a 4-1 defeat to Manchester United halted that momentum. Wins over Birmingham City and Aston Villa have been highlights, alongside a hard-fought 2–2 draw with Stoke City.
“Premier League 2 is a really strong competition,” Williams said. “It gives you the chance to test yourself against other Category One academies and showcase your ability.
"The season’s been decent so far, but with the talent we have in this squad, we know we can do better. We should be aiming to climb the table and push for the top places.”
It’s massive that we get the year off to a good start against Chelsea
—Seb Williams
Saturday’s fixture marks Palace’s first Premier League 2 outing since early November, with a demanding run of games to follow. Williams is well aware of the importance of starting strongly.
“It’s massive that we get off to a good start,” he said. “We’ve got a busy schedule coming up with quick turnarounds, and this is a great opportunity to show that we can compete with one of the biggest teams in the world.”
Reflecting on recent meetings with Chelsea, Williams believes confidence can be drawn from last season’s encounters.
“We had some good games against them last year,” he recalled. “We came back from 2-0 down to beat them 4-2 at home, which showed real character, and then only lost 1–0 away. They’re a very good side, so we’ll need to be at our best.”
Preparations for the weekend have been positive, despite challenging weather conditions.
“Training’s been good,” Williams said. “The weather’s affected things slightly so we’ve been in the dome and on the 3G at times, but the focus and intensity have been strong.”
This game will NOT be streamed live on Palace TV+ on Saturday owing to our first-team clash with Macclesfield FC in the FA Cup – click HERE to learn more about Palace TV+ and subscribe today!
However, live updates will be available via the club’s Academy X account, with a full match report and post-match reaction published shortly after full-time on the Academy section of the club website.
Highlights will also be available on Palace TV+.
Chelsea Under-21s v Crystal Palace Under-21s