Laila Harbert
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Laila Minnie Harbert[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 3 January 2007 | ||
| Place of birth | England | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team |
Portland Thorns (on loan from Arsenal) | ||
| Number | 4 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2016–2025 | Arsenal | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2025– | Arsenal | 0 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | → Watford (loan) | 14 | (0) |
| 2025 | → Southampton (loan) | 9 | (0) |
| 2025– | → Portland Thorns (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2021–2023 | England U17 | 31 | (5) |
| 2024– | England U19 | 6 | (1) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 25 August 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 30 May 2025 | |||
Laila Minnie Harbert (born 3 January 2007) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Portland Thorns FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), on loan from Arsenal, and the England under-19s.
Early life
[edit]Harbert grew up in Bexley, playing with a boys' team that her father coached. She moved to be closer to the Arsenal training grounds as she got to secondary school age,[2] having joined the Arsenal Academy at age nine,[2] and trained with the boys team between 12 and 15 years old.[3]
Club career
[edit]Arsenal
[edit]On 24 May 2024, Harbert made her senior, non-competitive, debut for Arsenal in their 1–0 win against A-League All-Stars Women as part of Arsenal's 2024 post-season tour.[4] She then went on to feature in Arsenal's 1–2 win against Washington Spirit, coming on as a sub for Alessia Russo in the 78th minute.[5]
Harbert signed her first professional contract with Arsenal on 3 January 2025 after nine years at the club.[6]
Watford (dual-sign loan)
[edit]At the start of the 2023-2024 season, Harbert signed on dual-sign agreement with Women's National League side Watford alongside fellow Young Gunners Michelle Agyemang and Katie Reid.[7] She featured in 17 games for Watford across all competitions, scoring her first senior goal and hat-trick in a 6–1 win away at Southampton to keep Watford in the FA Cup.[8]
Southampton (loan)
[edit]After signing her first professional contract with parent club Arsenal, Harbert signed on loan for the remainder of the 2024-25 season with Women's Championship side Southampton FC on 23 January 2025,[9] linking up with former Young Gunner Araya Dennis and current Gunner Vivienne Lia. Harbert made 9 appearances across all competitions for Saints.
Portland Thorns (loan)
[edit]On 25 August 2025, Harbert joined NWSL club Portland Thorns FC on a loan through the remainder of the Thorns' 2025 campaign.[10] She made her NWSL debut one month later, coming on as a second-half substitute for Hina Sugita in a 26 September defeat to Gotham FC.[11]
International career
[edit]Harbert has represented the England Under-17 and Under-19 national teams.
Harbert was part of the England squad[12] who got to the semi-final of the 2023 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship, where they ended their run with a 3–1 defeat to Spain in the semi-finals.[13] The midfielder later captained the Under-17 side[14] to the final of the 2024 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship, where they were again beaten by Spain in a 0–4 loss in Malmö, Sweden.[15]
Towards the end of 2024, Harbert was also given the captain's armband for the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup as England looked to overcome their previous defeats by rivals Spain. The England side were defeated again in the semi-finals by the Spanish team, and then beaten by the United States in the third-place playoff to finish fourth.[16]
Harbert made her Under-19 debut in the Albir Garden Tournament in yet another defeat to Spain, starting all three of England's games in the tournament.[17]
Playing style
[edit]Harbert has been described as a technical player with vision and a commanding presence. She is known for her passing, both short and long.[18]
Career statistics
[edit]- As of match on 4 May 2025[1]
| Club | Season | League | League Cup | FA Cup | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Watford (loan) | 2023-2024 | FA Women's National League | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 17 | 3 |
| Southampton FC (loan) | 2024-2025 | Women's Championship | 9 | 0 | - | - | 9 | 0 | ||
| Portland Thorns (loan) | 2025 | National Women's Soccer League | 1 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 24 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 27 | 3 | ||
References
[edit]- ^ a b Laila Harbert at Soccerway
- ^ a b "Young Gun: Laila Harbert". Young Gun: Laila Harbert. 23 July 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ Roché, Art de (14 January 2024). "Arsenal loanees relish FA Cup chance with Watford as Jonas Eidevall looks to the future". The Athletic. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
- ^ "Report: Arsenal Women 1-0 A League All Stars". Report: Arsenal Women 1-0 A League All Stars. 24 May 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ "Report: Washington Spirit 1-2 Arsenal". Report: Washington Spirit 1-2 Arsenal. 18 August 2024. Archived from the original on 10 June 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ "Arsenal academy star Laila Harbert signs first professional deal". BBC Sport. 3 January 2025. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
- ^ Frith, Wilf (4 August 2023). "Watford Women sign Arsenal trio on dual registrations". SheKicks. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
- ^ "Harbert hat-trick helps Watford Women into the FA Cup Fourth Round". Watford Observer. 10 December 2023. Archived from the original on 6 March 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ Frith, Wilf (23 January 2025). "Southampton FC Women sign Laila Harbert on loan". SheKicks. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
- ^ Banerjee, Ritabrata (25 August 2025). "NWSL giants Portland Thorns make shocking move for Arsenal youngster Laila Harbert with loan agreed until January". Goal.com. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
- ^ "Thorns Fall at Gotham FC". Portland Thorns FC. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
- ^ The Football Association, FA (3 November 2023). "Squad for England WU17s' EURO qualifiers". England Football. Archived from the original on 9 December 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ UEFA.com. "Spain-England | Women's Under-17 2023". UEFA.com. Archived from the original on 10 September 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ "Harbert on captaining England at U17s World Cup". Harbert on captaining England at U17s World Cup. 23 July 2025. Archived from the original on 11 December 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ UEFA.com. "England-Spain | Women's Under-17 2024 Final". UEFA.com. Archived from the original on 12 February 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ FIFA (6 June 2025). "Fuller shines as USA secure podium place". Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ "Women's February 2025 International round-up | Southampton FC | News". www.southamptonfc.com. 4 March 2025. Archived from the original on 18 March 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ "18yo Arsenal midfielder signs first professional contract". dailycannon.com. 3 January 2025. Archived from the original on 6 January 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.