England captain Leah Williamson has made her first foray into the world of business in a bid to encourage more women to participate in football.
The 26-year-old, who led the Lionesses to glory at last summer's Euros, is facing an extended spell on the sidelines after rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament [ACL] during Arsenal's Women's Super League clash with Manchester United last month.
However, she has now followed in the footsteps of England men's captain Harry Kane by becoming a stakeholder in football entertainment group TOCA Football.
The company runs football-themed social entertainment venues, called TOCA Social, and is the largest operator of indoor soccer centres in North America and Williamson's partnership her commitment to the future of girls and women's football around the world.
The defender is set to work closely with the company to increase participation with females of all ages, with more details about the campaign to be announced later in the year.
"I am excited to be partnering with TOCA Social and support their mission to get more females participating in the sport," Williamson said.
"As a professional footballer, I know the importance of quality training, and the training arm of TOCA Soccer provides that and more. I am thrilled to be a part of a company that is committed to making a positive impact on the sport I love."
In October last year, a striking mural of Williamson and fellow investor Harry Kane was unveiled at TOCA Social in a bid to help inspire the next generation of leaders.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, Williamson said: “Leading by example and being a communicator are just a few of the elements needed to be a good leader, and I hope this sends a message to young players that anything is possible.”
"We are excited to welcome Leah to the TOCA family as a stakeholder," said Alex Harman, President of TOCA Social.
"Leah's commitment to football and her dedication to empowering young women make her an ideal partner for TOCA. We look forward to working with Leah on a collaborative campaign to increase female participation in football and to providing the best experiences for all ages and levels."
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