Gunning-Williams on new deal: “This badge means so much to me”
Mon 19 May 2025, 13:00|
Tottenham Hotspur
Lenna Gunning-Williams spoke of her delight to continue her journey at Hotspur Way after signing a new deal with the Club.
The exciting young forward, who has been at the Club since the age of 15, penned a new contract which will run until 2028 after her first full season in the Barclays Women’s Super League.
Following a hugely successful loan at Ipswich Town last term, the 20-year-old has gone on to make 16 appearances for us this campaign, with 12 of those coming in England’s top flight.
Having progressed through our Academy set-up into the first team, Lenna is excited to commit her future in Lilywhite and continue to grow with the Club.
I have been here since I was 15 so to know I will be here for a few more years, it’s very special and comforting for my family and friends as well.
“Growing up around the corner from the training centre, this badge means so much to me,” she told us. “I have been here since I was 15 so to know I will be here for a few more years, it’s very special and comforting for my family and friends as well.
“It has obviously been a hard season for everyone involved but, for me, just the personal gains, I have spent the whole season in the WSL, my first full campaign in the WSL, so I’m just excited to get going again.
“I just want to keep developing, learning from the players around, take my opportunities when they come and just focus on my development.”
Talking about the support of her team-mates, Lenna added: “They’ve always supported me from the moment I was training up as an Academy player to then being a professional with them, I feel they’ve always answered my questions or whatever I ask them, so I do have them to thank as well for this.”
Now a permanent member in the first team squad, our Academy graduate is now inspiration for our younger generation coming through the ranks – and Lenna hopes her journey can inspire others.
“It feels weird because I’m only 20 years old, I’m still a ‘baby’ in the game. So, for the girls in the position now where I was only a couple of years ago and now see me as a role model, they can see it’s possible to go through the Academy and make it in the first team at Spurs.”
After penning her first professional contract in July, 2023, the England youth international gained first team minutes by joining Ipswich Town on loan for the 2023/24 campaign, where she scored 14 goals in 26 games, and she feels that experience was beneficial in her development.
“Going from Academy to first team football is hard anyway so I felt the senior loan experience was so important for me, being bullied by grown women every week was probably quite nice, physicality, tactical ability… all that stuff, it definitely helped to be the player I am now.”
Her impressive development has also been recognised on the international stage after Lenna earned her maiden call-up to England Under-23s squad in October, 2024.
“I didn’t think the England pathway was going to be the way for me as much as I wanted it to, I thought I just wasn’t what they were looking for, but I believe in timing and that’s everything,” she said.
“They were seeing me in pre-season and saw what I did on loan at Ipswich, so it was really nice to get the recognition that people outside of Spurs have also seen my development, plus the time and effort I’ve been putting in. Having an England badge on is something you can’t describe.”
