Manchester City star Vivianne Miedema has revealed that her mother is being treated in an intensive care unit amid a battle with cancer just days after her side claimed their first Women’s Super League title in 10 years.
The Netherlands powerhouse has been an integral part of her side’s campaign under Andree Jeglertz, scoring 10 goals in her 19 appearances this season.
But Miedema will be conspicuous by her absence from Man City’s match against Brighton this weekend, her head coach confirmed on Thursday, due to family matters.
Miedema was also absent from a team-wide viewing party to watch the Arsenal match before Jeglertz gave a triumphant speech.
The 29-year-old shared more details on social media, including poignant photos with her mother and her brother Lars, who plays for Dutch side Hoogeveen.
‘Little update from us,’ Miedema captioned photographs of herself holding her mother’s hand on Instagram. ‘The last 2.5 weeks have been really difficult for us as a family.
Vivianne Miedema has travelled to her mother’s bedside with her brother Lars amid her battle with cancer
While her team-mates were celebrating winning the WSL, the Netherlands superstar was visiting her mother in an intensive care unit
Despite struggling with injury in the latter stages of the campaign, Miedema has score 10 goals for Man City in their title-winning season
‘My mum had serious complications after her chemo treatment for cancer and has been in the ICU since.
‘She’s been fighting for her life, and by some miracle, she is still here. Now she’s fighting hard through the small steps of recovery, although there are still many big hurdles ahead.
‘Thank you all so much for the love, support, and messages (white heart emoji).’
‘PS. Can’t wait to tell mum we won the league (pale blue heart emoji)’.
Miedema’s long-term partner and former Arsenal team-mate Beth Mead was among those to share supportive messages in the comments, with the Lionesses star writing: ‘Proud of you always. Turbolien is going to be buzzing (heart emoji)’.
Former footballer and Football Focus presenter Alex Scott shared: ‘(heart emoji) sending love x x’.
Ex-Chelsea goalkeeper Carly Telford added: ‘Sending you all so much love and strength (heart emoji) x’.
Arsenal’s draw with Brighton on Wednesday evening confirmed that Man City cannot be caught at the WSL summit, handing them their first league title since 2016, and interrupting the steady traffic in the years since in the direction of second-placed Chelsea.
Sonia Bompastor’s side sit six points behind the Citizens but have played the same number of games – 21 – meaning third-placed Arsenal were the most likely rivals for the league with their three games in hand.
A sticky 1-1 draw with the south coast side however snuffed out the possibility of a late run from Renee Slegers and Co.
Miedema previously won the league with Arsenal in 2018-19, but claims her first trophy with Man City since moving north in the summer of 2024.
