Arsenal Women have officially terminated the loan agreements for Cecily Wellesley-Smith and Naomi Williams, bringing both prospects back to the club for the remainder of the 2025/26 season. The Gunners announced the decision on their official website on Friday, January 2, 2026, as the North London club moves to strengthen its squad depth ahead of a demanding winter schedule.
Both players originally departed last summer to gain senior experience, but the technical staff opted to exercise recall options during the current January transfer window to address immediate personnel needs.
Eighteen-year-old defender Wellesley-Smith returns to Meadow Park following a brief stint with Barclays Women’s Super League rivals Leicester City. The center-back, who signed her first professional contract with Arsenal in June 2025 after arriving from the Oxford United academy, found opportunities limited during her time with the Foxes. She managed just one competitive appearance for the East Midlands side, featuring in a Subway Women’s League Cup victory, before the parent club decided to cut the season-long arrangement short.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Naomi Williams rejoins the senior squad after spending the first half of the campaign with Championship outfit Bristol City. The 21-year-old youth international featured three times for the Robins, with all of her minutes coming during the group stages of the Subway Women’s League Cup. Her recall reportedly stems from a growing injury crisis within Arsenal’s goalkeeping department, where senior figures Manuela Zinsberger and Daphne van Domselaar remain sidelined with long-term setbacks.
The return of these two academy graduates provides manager Jonas Eidevall with vital defensive and goalkeeping cover as Arsenal continues to compete across four different competitions. While the club has not confirmed if either player will head back out on loan later this month, both Wellesley-Smith and Williams will immediately integrate into first-team training sessions. Fans expect both players to be available for selection when Arsenal hosts Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, January 10, 2026.
