As England and Barcelona goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck enjoys a coffee under the Spanish sun, she appears to be at the peak of her career. But just a year ago, her reality was starkly different.

In February 2023, at just 24 years old, Roebuck was diagnosed with a stroke, leaving her uncertain about ever playing football again.

"I'm lucky—I should have lost my vision," she told BBC Sport. "Most people who suffer a stroke like mine do. The fact that I didn’t is nothing short of a miracle."

A key part of England’s Euro 2022-winning squad and a World Cup finalist in 2023, Roebuck never imagined that just six months after that final in Sydney, her world would be turned upside down.

This is the story of her extraordinary comeback.

‘For Peace of Mind, I Need a Head Scan’

After returning from the World Cup in Australia, Roebuck’s season at Manchester City did not go as planned. She was sidelined from the first team and, off the pitch, started feeling unwell.

By Christmas 2023, she experienced dizziness, nausea, fatigue, and vision problems, but at first, her symptoms were attributed to a training-related concussion. However, Roebuck was convinced something more serious was wrong.

"I knew it wasn’t concussion," she said. "I just knew something wasn’t right. I insisted on a head scan."

Days later, she received a call from the club doctor, asking her to come in immediately. "It filled me with panic, but I never imagined it would be a stroke," she recalled.

She was diagnosed with an infarct in the left occipital lobe—a type of stroke affecting the brain’s visual processing center.

"My first question was, ‘Am I going to play football again?’"

‘I Was Scared to Do Anything on My Own’

The timing of her diagnosis couldn’t have been worse—just two weeks earlier, she had signed a pre-contract agreement with Barcelona. Instead of celebrating her dream move, she found herself in a hospital’s stroke ward.

Surprisingly, doctors determined her stroke had occurred weeks earlier, meaning immediate treatment wasn’t possible. She was sent home with strict restrictions—no carrying heavy items, no exercise for six weeks.

"As a professional footballer, I thought, ‘I can’t do that.’"

The emotional toll was immense. "I wouldn’t even walk my dog. I was scared to do anything alone," she said. "That was never me—I was always independent."

Months of testing finally revealed a tiny hole in her heart, likely the cause of the stroke.

"Strangely, I was relieved. I finally had an answer, and I knew it could be treated."

However, during surgery, doctors found that a membrane had naturally sealed the hole, leaving her with lingering uncertainty about what caused her stroke.

"You have to see it as a second chance, but I also feel anger. Why did this happen?"

‘Nobody Could Relate to What I Was Going Through’

Roebuck initially kept her diagnosis private, but she found support from unexpected sources—NFL star Tedy Bruschi, who had suffered two strokes, and former Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Čech.

"I spoke to Čech for two hours. He understood in a way nobody else did," she said. "Now, he’s a good friend—he even came to watch me train in Barcelona."

A ‘Fractured’ Relationship with Manchester City

Roebuck never played for Manchester City again after her stroke, and despite making over 100 appearances for the club, her final season left her feeling undervalued.

"I felt my relationship with the manager fractured. Maybe I misread the communication, or maybe it just wasn’t clear."

Her departure, however, made her move to Barcelona even more special.

"The club showed trust in me—that meant more than anything," she said. "The players here are incredible. It’s the perfect fit."

Back on the Pitch

Roebuck made her long-awaited Barcelona debut in December 2023—303 days after her diagnosis.

"Everyone expected me to be nervous, but I felt fine the moment I stepped out there."

A New Perspective on Life

Though she still battles fatigue, Roebuck has gained a fresh outlook.

"I used to think football was everything. But when I wasn’t sure I’d ever play again, I realized I needed more," she said.

That realization led her to start a coffee bean roasting business, with hopes of opening a café one day.

As for her England career, Roebuck acknowledges that making the squad for the upcoming Euros will be tough.

"I know I have to play consistently, but for me, it’s about the journey. My focus is on being the best goalkeeper I can be."