SAD NEWS: Leah Williamson and Chloe Kelly will miss the Women’s Super League season

SAD NEWS: Leah Williamson and Chloe Kelly will miss the Women’s Super League season

 

 

Arsenal and England have been dealt a major blow ahead of the 2025–26 Women’s Super League (WSL) campaign: skipper Leah Williamson is confirmed to miss the early matches following a knee injury, and Chloe Kelly faces delays in her return to full fitness, raising doubts over her availability.

Williamson ruled out for opening weeks

Leah Williamson sustained a knee injury during England’s Euro 2025 final win over Spain and returned to Arsenal with swelling in her right knee. Further assessments revealed she needed a minor “clean-up” surgical procedure to alleviate the issue. The operation was successful, but she is expected to be sidelined for several weeks.

This comes as a bitter setback for Williamson, who only recently recovered from a previous ACL injury in her right knee that ruled her out of the 2023 World Cup. The club has clarified that her new injury is not believed to be a recurrence of the ACL tear.

Arsenal open their WSL campaign on 6 September against London City Lionesses, but Williamson will not be available for that match or others in the early stretch of the season. Meanwhile, arsenal head coach Renée Slegers may need to rely on alternatives such as Lotte Wubben‑Moy, among others, to fill the defensive gap.

Kelly’s fitness and availability clouded

While there is no firm announcement that Chloe Kelly will definitely miss the season start, her outlook is uncertain. She has been dealing with a foot injury that required her to return to Arsenal for treatment, causing her to miss a pair of England fixtures in April.

Also worth noting: Kelly was only recently signed by Arsenal (on loan from Manchester City) in the January 2025 window, and she was ineligible to play against her former club in some early matches. Arsenal’s coach has publicly expressed hope that Kelly may be available soon:

> “We hope she’s available for Sunday … we know what she can do for us.”

However, Kelly has not featured at all for Arsenal in the WSL since her move, largely due to eligibility restrictions and her fitness condition. In short, her start to the season may be delayed, depending on how quickly she recovers and regains match fitness.

🧩 Impact & what this means for Arsenal

Leadership vacuum: Williamson’s absence deprives Arsenal of their defensive linchpin and captain. Her leadership, composure, and reading of the game will be deeply missed at the back.

Tactical adjustments: The club must rework defensive strategies and may need to use backup center-backs more heavily, potentially reshaping their style, especially in early fixtures.

Kelly’s attack boost delayed: Kelly offers pace, attacking threat, and creativity. If she is unavailable, Arsenal may start the campaign without the firepower they hoped she would bring.

Squad depth tested: With two prominent names possibly missing or limited, other squad members will be pressed into stepping up—this could be an opportunity for emerging players.

Psychological blow: Losing two high-profile players before the season begins can affect team morale. However, it may also galvanize the squad to pull together in adversity.

Though these are challenging developments, the timeline for Williamson’s return suggests she may only miss the opening weeks rather than the bulk of the season, and Kelly’s situation remains more fluid. Still, Arsenal will have to navigate the early fixtures carefully without two of their most influential players.