我们很高兴地宣布莉亚·威廉姆森与我们签订了一份新合同。自从莉亚·威廉姆森于19年前开始与阿森纳合作以来，我们的中后卫和副队长帮助我们赢得了一次巴克莱女子超级联赛冠军、四次足总冠军女子大陆轮胎联赛杯和两次女子足总杯。在此期间，利亚为阿森纳出场 232 次，攻入 15 球。利亚还是狮队队长，曾带领球队获得 2022 年欧洲女足锦标赛冠军。

“每个人都知道阿森纳对我意味着什么，但我认为每次签订新合同时，我都会感觉到爱再次被点燃，”利亚说。 “我很高兴留下来——这是一个我仍然可以继续成长、发展和接受挑战的地方。作为一个团队，我们都非常专注于为俱乐部带来更多奖杯，我迫不及待地想在新赛季到来时重新开始。”主教练乔纳斯·艾德瓦尔补充道：“利亚是我们球队的重要组成部分。团队，所以我们很高兴她与我们签订了新合同。她在球场内外给我们带来了很多东西——领导力、责任感和承诺。利亚与阿森纳有着特殊的联系，我期待着继续合作，为这个伟大的俱乐部带来更多成功。”女足总监克莱尔·惠特利说：“利亚与阿森纳的联系如此深厚——我记得她多年前，作为我们学院的一名女孩，我为她现在成为的坚定而充满激情的女性感到自豪。我们很高兴莉亚在这里签署了一份新协议，我知道我们的支持者今天会和我一起祝贺她。”

Having committed her future to the club, Leah Williamson admits that every time she signs a new contract it just sparks her love for Arsenal once again.Having spent 19 years as a Gunner having arrived at the club as a nine-year-old, Leah's relationship with Arsenal is set to stretch into a third decade after she put pen to paper on a new contract.And despite already boating a glittering career most players would dream of, the 27-year-old England captain believes that north London is the perfect place for her to continue to develop as a player as she targets even more success.“Everyone knows what Arsenal means to me, but I think every time I sign a new contract, I feel that love ignite all over again,” she said. “I’m very happy to be staying and looking forward to the next couple of years. “The most important thing for me is to be competitive as a footballer. It’s my job, I want to make sure that I’m in a place where I can give my team what they deserve. I think this is the place where I can still continue to grow, develop, be challenged and I believe playing in this league in England, one of the most competitive leagues in the world.   “I’ll always put being a footballer first and it’s very easy to be blinded by your love for something and I’ll always try and make a real decision, not just one that will be easy. I remember having a conversation with Kelly Smith at the Man United game, and she said: ‘this isn’t literally everything you’ve done in your career for, moments like this?’“I think she’s right, from her as well, and I think after everything that has happened, good and bad, at the end of the day, I’ve done it here and the club have supported me through those times as well, so it’s an easy decision in that manner to give back.”Leah admits that the bonds she’s made with players and staff across the club helped make her decision to stay easier, as she feels such strong family ties towards so many personnel on both the women’s and men’s sides.She is also relishing the buzz around the whole club at the moment as both teams push themselves forwards, and the link with the fanbase grows stronger every day.“I’ve always held the perspective that football isn’t everything,” she added. “Do I think it can change the world? Do I think that we have a platform and an opportunity to just bring so much joy to so many people? Especially being here at the weekend for the men’s game as well, there’s nothing like football, nothing makes me feel that way.“We’ve got a consistent squad and I’ve made friendships here that I don’t want to waste that time, much like I love playing for Arsenal, because I get to spend time with my family who live up the road. I wouldn’t want to leave those people either, because they make my life worth living.“It’s been a special year with special moments with those people and that’s what I think I’m excited for now because I know I get to have more of those with those people.”Leah has lifted seven major honours with the club since debuting for our first team in 2014, the last of which saw her lift the Continental Tyres League Cup in March.However she admits that tally should be higher, and is desperate to help end the five-year wait for a WSL title. She is adamant that her current teammates have what it takes to take us to the top again.Looking towards the future, Leah said: “I see this team as trailblazers, they’re changing the game, the way they connect with the fans, the way they’re authentic, and show who they are as human beings whilst also being incredible athletes.“I want people to remember us as winners which is why it’s important we start bringing some trophies back to this club, because this is what this club has always been. I know when people sign here, it’s the expectation regardless of recent history, that is the expectation. The smile says it all, I’m excited to get going.”Hear much more from Leah in our in-depth interview as she discusses spending her childhood supporting and training with the club, and battling back from injury, by pressing play on the interview above.