'A tiny bit of validation' - Leah Williamson claims Champions League glory will prove she was right to stay at Arsenal and decline offers from other clubs

Williamson, who grew up in London supporting Arsenal through her childhood, joined the club's youth academy in 2006 and made her senior professional debut for the Gunners in 2014. The Lionesses captain has had several offers in the past, however, she chose to stick with the north London side. Ahead of facing reigning European champions Barcelona in the Women's Champions League final, the England star has said she believes that winning the coveted trophy would validate her loyalty to her childhood club.

Speaking on The Sports Agents podcast, the 28-year-old said: "I think for the club, it's obviously where they want to be. It's where everybody wants to be. I think for what we've done over the past however many years off the pitch, this is the sort of occasion that I think we envisioned the club being in, and we wanted the club to be in.

"I think for me, it feels like a career’s kind of work towards. I've just completed my 19th season, I think, at Arsenal, so it feels it's a little crazy… I remember the last time Arsenal were in a final, and to now be on the pitch is, I suppose, a tiny bit of validation for like, you know, the career path that I chose, which is nice."

Williamson also revealed how an ACL injury she suffered back in 2023 convinced her to continue her career at Arsenal. She added: "I did my ACL a couple of years ago, and it kind of really reframed my mindset around football. I'm not sure anyone should stay in one place for as long as I have in any stretch of life. But I chose to, and I chose to do it because of the emotion and the love that I have for the club that I play for.

"Recently, I've had that sort of feeling to kick on again, and I want to be successful. And it's never been enough just to play for Arsenal. Obviously I want to win, but I think getting to a final… This is what I wanted. I wanted to be here, and I wanted to do it here. And hopefully, you know, we go there and we go to win. I've made decisions throughout my career to be somewhere where I feel like I am challenged, and I just have to do it in different ways. If you go to a new team, if you have a new manager, new teammates, new environment, those are different stimulus that will challenge you in different ways. I don't have that… I have to just challenge myself in different ways."

Renee Slegers' Arsenal side will aim to add a second Champions League title to the club's trophy cabinet as they take on the Blaugrana in Lisbon on Saturday.