But her story is far more colourful - she has played for London’s Arsenal since she was eight years old, winning the Women’s Champions League with the club. This is despite her brother and father being fans of their biggest city rivals, Spurs.
“The English are never done.” These were the words spoken by the Lionesses’ captain - as the England women’s team is nicknamed - in 2022 after the quarter-final against Spain, when England had been trailing for much of the match and, even in the 83rd minute, it looked like their home tournament journey was about to end.
You can read about England’s complicated journey to the final, and more, on Queenballers.com, a website specialising in news from the world of women's football.
But they managed to equalise, score in extra time, and celebrate a place in the semi-finals. There, they cruised past Sweden and, after beating Germany in the final - again in extra time - England triumphed at a sold-out Wembley. Leah Williamson became the very first captain ever to lead an England national team, men’s or women’s, to a major title.
Williamson repeated those same words this year, when she again captained her team to successfully defend their European crown. Remarkably, England didn’t lead a single knockout-stage match during regular time. Her words about never giving up rang truer than ever.
Childhood Gooner
For the 28-year-old centre-back, however, retaining the European title isn’t her only achievement this year. Perhaps even more valuable to her is the Champions League trophy she brought back to England as Arsenal’s vice-captain.
Arsenal, the club she has played for since she was eight and for her whole career, is still the only English women’s club to have won the competition - and they did it again, 18 years after their first triumph. And it earned her a nomination for the Ballon d'Or.
Fate, perhaps, had a hand in it: 18 years ago, when Arsenal won their first Women’s Champions League, Leah Williamson was there to witness it.
The final was played in England, and a ten-year-old Williamson - who had already been in the academy for two years - walked onto the pitch alongside her heroes in their red-and-white shirts as a mascot. Back then, lifting that very trophy herself one day was just a dream.
She inherited her love for the Gunners from her mother and grandmother, both Arsenal supporters. One of her most formative childhood memories came in 2006 when she was chosen as one of the mascots to accompany the players onto the pitch for a League Cup match.
The Williamsons were on holiday at the time, but her mother still drove 690 kilometres to fulfil her daughter’s dream. Young Leah not only got the experience of a lifetime but also a photo with her idol, Theo Walcott.
Ironically, her father and younger brother are Tottenham fans - Arsenal’s biggest city rivals. Yet, when Leah won the Champions League with Arsenal, her father surprised her by wearing her jersey in celebration.
Williamson is a living legend in England, not only because she holds the club record for appearances or because of her achievements as captain. She also inspires young girls by openly discussing taboo topics, such as her battle with endometriosis - a condition that, among other things, causes extremely painful cramps during menstruation. She played the EURO final while suffering from its effects.
But Gunners fans are now feeling downhearted. Arsenal will kick off their season on September 6th at the Emirates Stadium, and their star centre-back will be watching from the bench.
Like Chelsea rivals Lucy Bronze and Lauren James, she was injured during the Euros, delaying her start to the new season. Fortunately, the injury isn’t serious and should only keep her out for a few weeks.
You can learn more about Leah Williamson and other big names in women’s football at Queenballers.com, where you will find news, interesting facts, and profiles of players from the top leagues in Europe and the USA.