Everton defender Ashley Williams has showered praises on Welsh-born Ghanaian defender Ethan Ampadu.

Ampadu joined English Premier League champion Chelsea from League Two club Exeter City last month after making 13 appearances for the club last term.

And according to Williams, the 16-year-old is his direct heir after seeing him in action during a friendly game in Portugal.

"I wasn't going to retire until I saw Ethan Ampadu in Portugal. He's something else."

"We play a back three and he plays the same position as me. I was watching him at the other end and I thought, 'This kid is unbelievable."

"He's so young but if he carries on the sky is the limit for him.

Definitely. Even I'm thinking, 'Ok, if he progresses how he should then he will be a natural replacement for me."

"It made me feel a little bit better in terms of when my time is to retire" he said.

"When you retire you don't want to think you are letting your country down or you have to play on because there's no one else but you're past it."

"When it's my time and the gaffer feels I'm past it then Ethan can come straight in. For the time being I want to help him and pass on what I have learnt."

Ampadu is still eligible to play for Ireland, England and Ghana despite featuring for the Wales U20 team.