Arsenal Women goalkeeper Naomi Williams has been praised for her courage and bravery after taking to social media on Thursday to open up on her mental health challenges.

In a post on Instagram, Williams revealed she was diagnosed with depression and anorexia nervosa last year, and has since partnered with the If U Care Share Foundation, a mental health charity.

The 20-year-old posted: “I felt like the whole world had collapsed on me, sapping all the energy out of me. I also felt as if I was the only one going through it, finding it hard to muster the strength to wake up and get out of bed but rather wanting to just sleep through it all, which even made wanting to do the things I love like football hard. 

“Experiencing such hopelessness and thinking everything was meaningless, speaking out about how I was feeling in therapy and prioritising self-care sparked a positive difference, making me feel who I truly was supposed to be and who everyone knew I was.

“Now after coming out of such a lonely place, I want to help others realise that we all individually have a unique place and purpose in life that makes life worth staying, experiencing, and making the most of. I’m so glad to be working with If U Care Share, providing a place where you can get what’s on the inside out, something that has personally helped me so much.

“Remember that you are worthy of everything, and deserve to feel loved and experience happiness - as we all have a unique purpose in life.”

Williams joined Arsenal’s academy aged 13, signing her first professional contract aged 18 in June 2023. The goalkeeper made her senior debut against the A-League All Stars in Melbourne in May 2024.