Arsenal’s Leah Williamson has undergone a minor operation on her knee, and will miss the start of the Women’s Super League season.
The England captain sustained the injury during the Women’s Euros final against Spain. On returning to her club last week, a scan on the swollen knee indicated that a “clean-up procedure” was necessary.
Williamson ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in the same knee two years ago, but the injuries are not thought to be linked.
The 28-year-old was also forced off the pitch in the Euros quarter-final against Sweden, taking a blow to the ankle, but bounced back quickly.
The Gunners kick off their Women’s Super League campaign at the Emirates on Saturday, 6th September, when they face London City Lionesses.
Leah Williamson’s career history
Williamson has been with her childhood club Arsenal since she was eight years of age, and has progressed through the age groups. She was named the PFA Women’s Young Player of the Year in 2015, the year she turned 18 and signed her first professional contract. She was part of the Arsenal squad that won the WSL title in 2018-19 and then the UEFA Women’s Champions League last season.
In 2022, incoming England manager Sarina Wiegman appointed Williamson as her permanent captain, and in the three years since, the Lionesses have won two Women’s Euros as well as the Finalissima.
‘I made my peace with it’
However, England were without Williamson during their run to the 2023 Women’s World Cup final due to the ACL injury she suffered in April that year in a WSL match against Manchester United.
“Unfortunately the World Cup and Champions League dream is over for me and everyone will think that’s the main focus, but it’s the day-to-day of what I’m about to go through that is the most draining of my thoughts,” Williamson wrote on Instagram at the time.
Chelsea’s Millie Bright replaced her as captain for the World Cup, where the Lionesses finished as runners-up to Spain.
Williamson returned to action for Arsenal in January 2024. At the start of the 2024-25 season, concussion protocols ruled her out of several matches. However, she returned to full fitness, and by the end of the season, she had broken Arsenal’s WSL appearance record, playing a part in her 158th match when she was named in the side to face Everton in March 2025.
