Naomi Williams (footballer)

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Naomi Williams

| image =

| caption =

| fullname = Naomi Eloise Williams{{Soccerway|naomi-williams/872877|Naomi Williams}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2004|10|24|df=y}}

| birth_place = England

| height =

| position = Goalkeeper

| currentclub = Arsenal

| clubnumber = 40

| youthyears1 = 2018–2022

| youthclubs1 = Arsenal

| years1 = 2022–

| clubs1 = Arsenal

| caps1 = 0

| goals1 = 0

| nationalyears1 =

| nationalteam1 =

| nationalcaps1 =

| nationalgoals1 =

| club-update = 24 May 2024

| nationalteam-update =

}}

Naomi Eloise Williams (born 24 October 2004) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Women's Super League club Arsenal.

Early career

Williams joined the Arsenal Academy aged 13,{{Cite web |last=Feringa |first=Megan |date=2023-06-23 |title=Arsenal make contract announcement as exciting young trio sign first pro deals |url=https://www.football.london/womens-football/agyemang-godfrey-arsenal-academy-williams-27185240 |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=Football London |language=en |archive-date=6 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706110743/https://www.football.london/womens-football/agyemang-godfrey-arsenal-academy-williams-27185240 |url-status=live }} signing for the club as an academy player.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-25 |title=Academy trio commit future to Arsenal |url=https://www.arsenal.com/news/academy-trio-commit-future-arsenal |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=Arsenal FC |language=en}} She was formerly a ballgirl at Meadow Park, the ground where Arsenal previously played their home matches.{{Cite web |last=Vinall |first=Marnie |date=2024-05-24 |title=Russo goal proves the difference as Arsenal beat A-League All Stars 1-0 at Marvel |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/live-updates-newcastle-v-a-league-all-stars-men-arsenal-v-a-league-all-stars-women-20240524-p5jg9z.html |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en |archive-date=6 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706110743/https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/live-updates-newcastle-v-a-league-all-stars-men-arsenal-v-a-league-all-stars-women-20240524-p5jg9z.html |url-status=live }} Prior to joining the first team, she featured in 13 matches in the Acadaemy League for Arsenal.{{Cite web |title=Arsenal Women FC Academy {{!}} Professional Game Academy League |url=https://fulltime.thefa.com/displayTeam.html?divisionseason=828702513&teamID=220940824#tab-2 |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=The FA}}

Club career

On 23 June 2023, having "grown up" at the club, Williams signed her first professional contract with Arsenal aged 18,{{Cite web |last=Keogh |first=Emily |date=2023-06-23 |title=Arsenal academy trio commit to Gunners with first professional contracts |url=https://www.90min.com/posts/arsenal-academy-trio-commit-gunners-professional-contracts-agyemang-godfrey-williams |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=90min |language=en-GB |archive-date=6 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706110746/https://www.90min.com/posts/arsenal-academy-trio-commit-gunners-professional-contracts-agyemang-godfrey-williams |url-status=live }} having trained with the first team since 16 years old.

On 24 May 2024, Williams made her debut for Arsenal in an A-Leagues All Stars Women game at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia.{{Cite web |last=Francis |first=Kieran |date=2024-05-24 |title=Arsenal Women vs. A-League All Stars final score, result and highlights as Super League side secure narrow win {{!}} Sporting News Australia |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/football/news/arsenal-women-aleague-all-stars-score-result-highlights-friendly-australia/467d03572dc47f4ed75f3cd7 |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=Sporting News |language=en-au |archive-date=6 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706110743/https://www.sportingnews.com/au/football/news/arsenal-women-aleague-all-stars-score-result-highlights-friendly-australia/467d03572dc47f4ed75f3cd7 |url-status=live }} Williams was credited with making a pair of impressive saves,{{Cite web |last=Matthew |first=Comito |date=2024-05-24 |title=Historic All Stars showcase stirs 'overwhelming' emotion: 'A night I'll never forget' |url=https://aleagues.com.au/news/all-stars-0-1-arsenal-alessia-russo-goal-highlights-match-report/ |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=A-Leagues |language=en-AU |archive-date=3 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240703215746/https://aleagues.com.au/news/all-stars-0-1-arsenal-alessia-russo-goal-highlights-match-report/ |url-status=live }} including denying Hannah Wilkinson a late equaliser with a finger tip save in extra time.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-24 |title=Arsenal praise the All Stars and Eidevall learns the true toll of travel |url=https://impetusfootball.org/2024/05/24/arsenal-praise-the-all-stars-and-eidevall-learns-the-true-toll-of-travel/ |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=Impetus Football |language=en |archive-date=6 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706110744/https://impetusfootball.org/2024/05/24/arsenal-praise-the-all-stars-and-eidevall-learns-the-true-toll-of-travel/ |url-status=live }} Arsenal won the match 1–0 with manager Jonas Eidevall attributing the victory to Alessia Russo's goal and Williams' save. The Sydney Morning Herald has described her as "a highly rated Arsenal youth product".

Honours

References

External links

[https://www.arsenal.com/women/players/naomi-williams Naomi Williams] at Arsenal F.C.
{{Soccerway|naomi-williams/872877|Naomi Williams}}
{{Flashscore.com player|williams-naomi/GlzYk4rB|Naomi Williams}}

Category:2004 births

Category:Living people

Category:Arsenal W.F.C. players

Category:English women's footballers

Category:Women's association football goalkeepers

Category:21st-century English sportswomen