Arsenal star and England captain Leah Williamson has opened up about her difficult journey recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

The 26-year-old, who sustained the injury while playing for Arsenal in the Women’s Super League, is currently seven months into an expected nine-month recovery period.

Arsenal’s Leah Williamson says recovering from a serious knee injury has “not been the easiest journey”.

“My life has turned from having the best job in the world to having to go and do something every single day that I don’t want to do,” she said.

Despite captaining England to Euros glory in 2022, Williamson’s injury meant she missed out on the summer World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. “Everyone thinks about injury as a thing that takes away your physical ability… But it’s not even like I’m impartial. I actively don’t want to be in this situation. It’s not the easiest journey,” Williamson said.

Williamson discussed the challenges of being a professional athlete and facing a significant injury. “All of a sudden no-one really cares what I’m doing. And there’s no pressure on me to do anything at any point in my day. Everything’s at my own pace. Everything’s on my own terms,” she added.

Despite the setback, Williamson found solace in new hobbies and spending time with loved ones. Among her pursuits, she learned to play the piano for a performance with the BBC Concert Orchestra at Maida Vale Studios.

“This has been the hardest time of my rehab… it’s given me a distraction,” she said.

Williamson hopes to return for Arsenal before the season ends and reflects on her injury period as a time for personal growth and learning.