In February 2016, Joe Williams put pen to paper on a contract extension tieing him to Everton until 2020. It was good news for the 20-year-old who had just returned to action following a year of injury frustration. Williams, at one time a rumoured transfer target of Manchester United, had recovered from that bad knee injury only to have his attempted comeback ruined by damage to his ankle in November. He was declared fit again in February 2017, and got to sit on the first team bench for five games without being used, although he was instrumental in helping the Under-23s win the Premier League 2 title.