Sky Sports presenter Emma Saunders has shared a personal health update with her followers, revealing that she is currently battling a brain infection known as encephalitis. The diagnosis comes after Saunders had already been dealing with thyroid cancer, for which she underwent treatment at the start of the 2024/25 football season.
Saunders, a well-known figure in the football community as a matchday reporter for Sky Sports, took to Instagram to share her latest challenge.
From her hospital bed, she expressed gratitude for the support she has received from her family, friends, and colleagues at Sky Sports and National Health Services (NHS) during this difficult period. She also thanked her partner, Will Still, the manager of French Ligue 1 club Lens, for his unwavering support.
In her heartfelt post, Saunders noted, “Unfortunately, life took a bit of an unexpected turn a couple of weeks ago, and I’m now off work while I recover from encephalitis, an infection of the brain.” She expressed her hope to return to her duties soon, particularly to see out the end of the current football season, which she had partially missed due to her earlier cancer treatment.
Saunders’ announcement has sparked an outpouring of support from the football community. Colleagues and fellow sports personalities have rallied around her, offering messages of encouragement and wishing her a speedy recovery.
Simon Thomas, host of Soccer Saturday, commented, “So sorry to hear you’ve gone through this, Emma. You are missed! Look after yourself and hope you are feeling much better soon.” Pien Meulensteen and Hayley McQueen also sent their best wishes, with former striker Chris Iwelumo adding his support as well.
Emma Saunders’ partner, Will Still, recently led his team to a thrilling victory over Marseille in Ligue 1. Despite the challenges posed by Saunders’ health issues, she remained focused on his managerial duties, thanks in part to her encouragement.
He had temporarily steered away from his role to support her but returned to digging out after being assured she was receiving the best care possible. Still praised his team’s resilience during this difficult time and emphasized that his girlfriend’s well-being remains his top priority.
Saunder’s career in broadcasting spans multiple platforms, including Sky Sports, ITV and BBC. She has been a familiar face on Sky Sports Football coverage, particularly with EFL broadcasts, and has also worked on Premier League programs and interviewed numerous top players. Beyond her with Sky, Saunders has served as a stadium presenter for England internationals, the World Cup and Six Nations rugby matches.