Former Shene School – now Richmond Park Academy – student Fara Williams has celebrated landing an MBE in the New Year's Honours list by penning a return to London football.

Williams, who scored three penalties as the Lionesses finished third at last summer's World Cup in Canada, has agreed a switch from Liverpool to Arsenal. 

The 31-year-old midfielder, England's record appearance holder with 148 caps, wrote on Twitter that she had signed for "the next two years".

"Fara is a great competitor and a fantastic character, too", Arsenal manager Pedro Martinez Losa told the club's official website.

"She is a player with huge experience at club and international level, and her reading and understanding of games is fantastic."

Williams won the FA Women's Super League with Liverpool in 2013 and 2014, and has previously played for Chelsea, Charlton and Everton.