Naomi Williams has announced she will leave Arsenal after eight years at the club, underlining how difficult the pathway remains for talented homegrown players in an elite squad.
Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images
Naomi Williams has announced on Instagram that she is leaving Arsenal after eight years at the club, a departure that underlines how difficult it remains for homegrown players to find a place in the senior rotation, regardless of their talent.
She said, “This summer I will be saying goodbye to the club that has built me and made me the person I am today. Words cannot fully express my pride and honour of being, having spent 8 years, at the club. This was the hardest decision I have had to make in my life so far, Arsenal forming my identity, habits, and actions on a daily basis. I have been surrounded by the world’s best – players, people, and staff.
“It is not an easy goodbye, having formed lifelong friendships and unbelievable experiences that at 13 years old having joined the club I thought I would have never been a part of, only dreamt. I cannot thank everyone that has been apart of my journey at Arsenal.
“For me it wasn’t just the trophies or accolades that I obtained here, but the simple joy in waking up everyday and getting to do my dream job and be a part of something so great and special to me, and the greater impact on culture and society the club has. Arsenal will forever remain in my heart, and I will forever remain a gooner. @arsenalwfc“
Over the last three seasons, Arsenal have signed several academy graduates to professional contracts, a reversal of their previous policy, when youngsters would often leave at the end of their academy years in search of first-team football.
The reality, however, is that the club are competing at an elite level, reaching the Champions League semi-finals and winning the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup, the biggest club trophy in the world. Finding a place in a 25-player squad is therefore a tough ask for homegrown players, who are competing against full internationals for a spot.
Williams is currently the fourth-choice goalkeeper behind Daphne van Domselaar, Annieke Borbe and Barbora Votikova, who is on a short-term loan until the end of the season.
Amy Liddiard, Arsenal’s under-21 academy goalkeeper, is the current fifth choice at the age of 17.
Williams leaves the club without a senior competitive appearance, although she did play in the friendly against Australia All Stars XI in Sydney.
Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images
She could possibly have been given an opportunity in January, when she was recalled from her loan at Bristol City with Van Domselaar and Borbe both struggling with injuries and Zinsberger out with an ACL injury.
Instead, Arsenal moved for the short-term loan of a more experienced goalkeeper.
Goalkeeper is a specialist position where competition for minutes is particularly limited, making game time difficult to secure.
Hopefully, Williams can find a club where she can play regularly and continue her development.
She leaves Arsenal having won the biggest tournaments, with winners’ medals she fully deserves as a regular member of the squad.