Boro rejects Bolton bid for Williams

On the final day of the European transfer window, the British media claimed that Bolton had made a last-minute move for the highly-regarded Socceroos star who can play in defence and in midfield.

But Boro manager Tony Mowbray refused to let Williams go.

Williams worked under Bolton manager Owen Coyle when he was on loan to Burnley from Boro in 2008-2009.

"Everything happens for a reason and football is a weird game," Williams, 23, said.

"I am very happy at Boro and I'm enjoying it here.

"I feel honoured that a Premier League club was prepared to pay that sort of money for me although you never really know how much they actually offered.

"But I appreciate the fact that Boro did not cash in on me, which shows that I am wanted at the club.

"My contract goes for another 18 months and I'm looking forward to our final push for promotion to the Premier League.

"We have an away game at Leicester on Thursday (AEDT)."

Boro is fifth in the Championship and promotion to the EPL would enable Williams to realise his childhood dream of playing in a competition widely regarded as one of the best and strongest in the world.

His younger brother Ryan has achieved his ambition to play in the Premier League, signing a deal for an undisclosed fee to take him from Portsmouth to Fulham.

Sky Sports reported that the Cottagers fought off interest from West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa for the talented 18-year-old winger, who has already been training with Martin Jol's side.

"It's been a long few days actually, finding out whether or not I was going to be signing, but I've signed a two-and-a-half-year deal so I'm really happy to be part of the club, it's a good club," Ryan Williams said.

With transfer speculation out of the way and his short-term club future secured, Rhys Williams can now concentrate on his international career as the Socceroos prepare for the final phase of qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Coach Holger Osieck is expected to name a largely experimental side for Australia's final group match against Saudi Arabia in Melbourne on February 29 so Williams might not be called up for what is effectively a dead rubber for the already qualified Socceroos.

Boro has been excellently served by Australian players over the years and its reluctance to let go of versatile Williams is understandable.

Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer spent 11 seasons at the Riverside from 1997 while striker Mark Viduka joined him for three seasons from 2004.

Boro is also the home of current striker Scott McDonald.