Arsenal youngster receives MBE from Prince William

Arsenal youngster receives MBE from Prince William The Arsenal forward was honoured for services to association football after helping England win a second successive European Championship. Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images Michelle Agyemang described the moment as “incredible” after receiving her MBE from Prince William at Windsor Castle on Wednesday. The Arsenal youngster was awarded the honour for services to association football in the King’s Birthday Honours List in June 2026, recognition that followed her contribution to England ’s second successive European Championship victory in July 2025. Agyemang was not the only Arsenal player recognised, with team-mates Alessia Russo and Chloe Kelly also receiving MBEs in the same honours list. Daily Star 8 October 2026 The award adds to an extraordinary period in Agyemang’s young career, despite being sidelined with injury. Her performances at Euro 2025 earned her the Young Player of the Tournament award, before she was subsequently named BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year . Her journey with Arsenal began when she joined the club at six years old in 2012. Agyemang progressed through the academy and made her senior debut aged 16 against Leicester City in November 2022. Her first senior Arsenal goal arrived against Leeds United in the FA Cup on January 29, 2023, before she signed her first professional contract with the club in May 2024. Agyemang had already demonstrated her goalscoring ability at academy level, scoring 19 times in 11 appearances as Arsenal’s Under-21s won the Academy League title. Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images Her development continued with a loan spell at Watford during the 2023/24 season, where she scored six goals in the Women’s Championship. She then joined Brighton on loan for 2024/25 and moved into regular Women’s Super League football, scoring five goals in 22 appearances across all competitions and winning the club’s Young Player of the Year award. Agyemang’s progress was interrupted in October 2025 when she ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament during England’s win over Australia in Derby. Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images Arsenal confirmed that the injury would keep her out for the remainder of the 2025/26 season , before reporting in January 2026 that she had returned from Brighton to continue her rehabilitation with her parent club. Agyemang is hopeful that she will be back playing soon, telling the media that she is “get­ting very close to return­ing now.” Photo by Andrew Matthews – Pool/Getty Images