Who is Ryan Williams? Bengaluru FC midfielder sacrifices Australian passport to live Indian national football team dream

Ryan Williams ushered a new era in Indian football after the midfielder gave up his Australian citizenship and officially became an Indian citizen. The 32-year-old's transition to Indian citizenship is the second such case of All India Football Federation's (AIFF) initiative to bring in Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) in the national football team.

Williams' Indian citizenship handover ceremony was conducted by legendary Sunil Chhetri at the Bengaluru FC's training facility. The winger got a string backing from his family, Bengaluru FC management and the Karnataka State Football Association. The final approval came from the ministerial level in New Delhi.

With Williams now eligible to play for the Indian national team, he will now join the national camp in Bengaluru before the AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Bangladesh on November 18.

“Honoured to make official what’s long felt true. Grateful for the love, the opportunity, and the sense of belonging this country has given me. As you can see, the last round of interviews was the hardest. India, I’m one of your own!” Williams wrote in an Instagram post.

He isn’t the first player to do so – that was Japan-born Arata Izumi, whose father was Gujarati. Izumi took Indian citizenship back in 2012 and went on to play for India 9 times in 2013 and 2014.