Leah Williamson and Michelle Agyemang have been handed further individual accolades, with Leah scooping the Golden Player Woman prize, while Michelle has been named the 2025 European Golden Girl.

Leah Williamson and Michelle Agyemang have been handed further individual accolades, with Leah scooping the Golden Player Woman prize, while Michelle has been named the 2025 European Golden Girl.

 

 

In a celebration of excellence for England’s women’s football, Leah Williamson has been awarded the Golden Player Woman prize, while Michelle Agyemang has been named the 2025 European Golden Girl.

For Williamson, the recognition crowns a momentous year. As captain of the England women’s national football team, she led her side to back-to-back major titles, lifting the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 crown after previously winning in 2022. The defender, also key for club side Arsenal W.F.C., has displayed leadership, resilience and top-level performances throughout the campaign. Her award as Golden Player Woman recognises not just her on-field contributions—but her role as a figurehead in the women’s game.

Meanwhile, 19-year-old Agyemang has enjoyed a meteoric rise. The forward burst into prominence in the Euro 2025 tournament, scoring clutch equalisers in knockout matches and ultimately helping England lift the trophy. Her efforts earned her the Young Player of the Tournament award and now this wider European acknowledgement in the Golden Girl award—given to the standout under-21 female talent in Europe.

These honours come at a time when English women’s football is experiencing a surge in profile and success, with both players playing prominent parts.

What the awards mean

The Golden Player Woman prize highlights a top-tier performer whose impact transcends just goals or statistics—it celebrates leadership, consistency and influence at club and international level. For Williamson, still recovering from a serious injury in recent seasons, it underscores a full-scale return to form and a consolidation of her status among the very best.

The European Golden Girl award (organised by Italian sports newspaper Tuttosport) recognises the most impressive young female footballer under 21 playing in Europe. Agyemang’s win signals her arrival as a rising star with the potential to shape the women’s game in the years ahead.

Looking ahead

For Williamson, while this latest accolade will rightly be savoured, the journey is not done. With England now setting their sights on the global stage and the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 in Brazil on the horizon, she remains central to England’s ambitions.

For Agyemang, the challenge will be to build upon this breakthrough. With maturity, careful management and consistent game time, she could become a mainstay in the senior side and a key contributor for club and country.

Why this matters beyond trophies

These awards also send a larger message: one of strength in depth in the women’s game, and the growing recognition of female footballers’ achievements. The prominence of these awards helps inspire young players, demonstrates role models in action and strengthens the visibility of women’s football globally.

In short: Williamson and Agyemang have earned honours befitting their performances—and by doing so, they’ve contributed to the wider story of English women’s football flourishing.