NEWS: LIONESS LUCY BRONZE OPENS UP ON ADHD AND AUTISM DIAGNOSIS

Photo credit: TalkSport (2023)

Lucy Bronze has opened up about her learning difficulties.

Bronze, who played for Barcelona, Manchester City and Olympique Lyonnais, was diagnosed with autism in 2021.

At school, she struggled with reading and spelling, which led to a dyslexia diagnosis.

Growing up, Bronze attempted to mimic her teammates' movements to fit in. "It was something I always knew about in a way," she explained.

She struggled to maintain eye contact during conversations, with her habit of touching her hair during matches being noticed by teammates and fans.

It was during an England camp that Bronze learned about her diagnosis. "It didn’t change anything essentially, but it was a bit of an eye-opener," she said. "I learned more about myself and understood why I saw things differently or acted differently in certain situations."

Speaking with professionals helped her identify her traits and their impact on her well-being. "Getting to sit down and actually talk about how it affects me, situations that make me feel good or bad, was a revelation."

"When I first joined the England team, I could not speak to anyone," she recalled.

I remember [defender] Casey Stoney saying, 'You've never looked me in the eye when speaking to me. I would watch Jill Scott and try to copy how she spoke to people. Hugging people and making eye contact are two things I had to learn because they’re seen as the norm, which I found so difficult."

Bronze, one of the most decorated players in the women's game, is now an ambassador for the National Autistic Society, using her platform to raise awareness and break stigma around autism.

Her openness about her diagnosis is helping pave the way for greater understanding in the sport.

(Credit: The Evening Standard, Chelsea FC, 2025)

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Nerea Fernandes

Writer

Her Football Sphere

Word count: 285 words