A lot of people not speaking about Leah Williamson’s season… She won the UWCL with Arsenal and captained England to their second Euro trophy back to back 👏 She has now been announced as 2025 Golden player Women’s prize. The award was created by an Italian newspaper and is decided by a plan of European football experts and legends 🔥

A lot of people not speaking about Leah Williamson’s season… She won the UWCL with Arsenal and captained England to their second Euro trophy back to back 👏 She has now been announced as 2025 Golden player Women’s prize. The award was created by an Italian newspaper and is decided by a plan of European football experts and legends 🔥

Often unsung in the hype around goals and flair players, Leah Williamson’s 2024-25 campaign deserves far more attention. As captain of both Arsenal Women and the England Women’s National Team, she achieved what few defenders ever do: a major European club title and a continental international trophy in the same season.

A season for the ages

At club level, Arsenal’s triumph in the UEFA Women’s Champions League 2025 marked a return to Europe’s summit, and Williamson was a key figure in that run. She oversaw a rock-solid defence, marshalled the back line, and brought calm composure in big moments. Her consistency and leadership were vital as Arsenal toppled giants to claim the trophy.

On the international stage, she captained the Lionesses to back-to-back UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 titles, becoming the first England senior captain to lift major silverware on foreign soil. In the final, she was described as “superb” — winning 100 % of her tackles, never being dribbled past, and anchoring the defence when pressure mounted.

When you combine club-champion and continental champion status, the narrative becomes special. Few players manage both in the same campaign—especially as a defender and captain.

Why the recognition and why now

It’s no surprise, then, that Williamson has now been awarded the 2025 “Golden Player Women’s” prize — a distinction from an Italian newspaper panel of European footballing experts and legends. The award reinforces what the numbers and performances were already telling us: she delivered when it mattered.

Look beyond the buzz of flashy forwards and high-scoring midfielders and consider this: Williamson’s calm composure, tactical intelligence and leadership under pressure allowed others to shine—and allowed her teams to win. As one analysis noted, she “reads the game and dictates play” from the back, making her more than just a fixture in the defence.

But why doesn’t everyone talk about her like this?

Defenders often don’t get the same limelight as goal-scorers. Add to that the fact that many major awards and media narratives tend to favour attacking flair, and it’s easy to understand why Williamson might not dominate the headlines. Yet, if you measure by trophies won, leadership shown and influence on both club and country, her season stands out.

What this means moving forward

For Arsenal and England, Williamson’s form and leadership provide a platform. She has written her name in the history books and laid the groundwork for what comes next—whether that’s further titles or mentoring the next generation. For the wider game, her example shows that elite defenders can and should receive equivalent recognition.

In short: Leah Williamson delivered a vintage season. Club champions, European champions. A national captain doing what few have done. The “Golden Player Women’s” award is richly deserved — and the silence around it is perhaps a sign it’s time we, as football fans, start talking lot more about the defenders who win things, not just the attackers who score.