Lioness captain Leah Williamson's life - hidden talent to health condition
Football fever is gripping the nation as the England women's national team kicks off in Zurich at 8pm tonight (July 5) to defend their Euro championship, but what do we know about our captain, Leah Williamson?
The Arsenal and England defender, 28, has loved the game since a young age, with her journey beginning at Scot Youth, a boys' team in Bletchley, Milton Keynes, when she was just six years old. Although she was only at the club for a year, it helped shape the rest of her career.
After being part of Arsenal's youth programme from the age of nine, Williamson debuted for the senior team when she was 17 at the end of their 2014 Champions League campaign. Since then, there's been no stopping her.
Williamson has won the League and Champions League once and the FA Cup and League Cup twice each. She has also captained Arsenal on various occasions, marking 200 appearances for them in December 2022.
You could say football is in her blood, as Williamson's mum played football when she was younger. However, back then, her mum had to cut her hair short to look like a boy to be allowed to play.
Williamson comes from a divided footballing family. Her dad and brother support Tottenham Hotspur, while she, her mum, and her grandmother are lifelong fans of Arsenal.
Her career hasn't been entirely plain sailing. On 19 April 2023, Williamson sustained an injury in Arsenal's 1-0 Women's Super League loss to Manchester United. The injury was later revealed to have been an anterior cruciate ligament, leading her to miss the rest of the season and the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Determined not to let it be her demise, she learned how to play the piano while recovering, even performing with the BBC Concert Orchestra for the BBC Sport digital show Out Of Office, which follows players pursuing interests off the pitch. Then in April 2024, she made her footballing comeback against the Republic of Ireland.
As well as learning to play the piano, Williamson is good with numbers and is studying accountancy. She's also had to overcome a painful health condition.
Williamson revealed she has endometriosis - a long-term condition where cells similar to those in the lining of the womb (uterus) grow in other places, like the ovaries and fallopian tubes. She has spoken about the condition in a bid to increase awareness of the disruptive condition and the need for more measures to help women suffering.
In a former interview with Women's Health, Williamson said: "Before the Euros I had a concussion, which they say can really impact your next period, and it was bad - like, really bad." She explained that she felt like she couldn't move with the pain.
The football star added: "I was like, 'it cannot happen.' Like, I actually won't be able to play. [An endometriosis flare-up] is a big fear when you get to a tournament not injured.
"I don't change too much around [my cycle] now. Unless I'm on the floor. And then I'm like: 'I won't make it today'. I'm a professional athlete, I've always been like, 'let's get on with it'."
Williamson is also a part of the LGBTQ+ community and is rumoured to be in a relationship with former Miss USA and American model Elle Smith. While they have been photographed together on numerous occasions, including on holiday in Majorca, neither has confirmed their relationship status.
Meanwhile, Williamson has created a limited-edition ice cream sundae, The Captain's Choice, to celebrate the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 competition. The Captain's Choice boasts a scrumptious mix of chocolate and vanilla ice cream, laced with raspberry coulis and rich chocolate sauce. It's garnished with Cadbury Buttons and Flake, all presented in a traditional sundae glass, topped with a lavish swirl of whipped cream.
But buyers can relish the dessert's tastiness as well as feel good knowing they're backing a good cause. Absolutely Business reported that £1 from every purchase will be donated to the women's football community, We Are Laces.
England V France kicks off tonight at 8pm on ITV.
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