Arsenal defender Leah Williamson has been awarded a CBE in the New Year’s Honours List. The 28-year-old Gunners defender was a critical part of the Arsenal team that won the 2024-25 Champions League and then she captained England to the retention of their European Championships crown in Switzerland this summer.
Williamson was initially made an OBE in the 2023 New Year’s Honours List after captaining the Lionesses to Euros triumph on home soil in 2022. Club CEO Chief Executive Officer Richard Garlick said: “On behalf of everyone at Arsenal Football Club, we congratulate Leah on receiving a CBE in the New Year Honours List 2026.
“Leah’s achievements in 2025 have been inspirational to everyone connected to Arsenal and millions of people across the country. She played an integral role in our historic Champions League triumph in Lisbon in May, before becoming the first England captain in history to lead the country to back-to-back tournament wins in Switzerland in July.
“We’re immensely proud of the way Leah represents Arsenal and how she uses her platform to drive continued progress for women and girls everywhere.”