Laila Harbert

Laila Harbert

Harbert with the Portland Thorns in 2025
Personal information
Full name	Laila Minnie Harbert [1]
Date of birth	(2007-01-03) 3 January 2007 (age 18)
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

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

Arsenal

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)

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)

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)

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

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

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

As of match on 4 May 2025 ^[1]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

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

1. Laila Harbert at Soccerway
2. "Young Gun: Laila Harbert". Young Gun: Laila Harbert. 23 July 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
3. 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.
4. "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.
5. "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.
6. "Arsenal academy star Laila Harbert signs first professional deal". BBC Sport. 3 January 2025. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
7. Frith, Wilf (4 August 2023). "Watford Women sign Arsenal trio on dual registrations". SheKicks. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
8. "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.
9. Frith, Wilf (23 January 2025). "Southampton FC Women sign Laila Harbert on loan". SheKicks. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
10. 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.
11. "Thorns Fall at Gotham FC". Portland Thorns FC . Retrieved 28 September 2025.
12. 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.
13. UEFA.com. "Spain-England | Women's Under-17 2023". UEFA.com. Archived from the original on 10 September 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
14. "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.
15. UEFA.com. "England-Spain | Women's Under-17 2024 Final". UEFA.com. Archived from the original on 12 February 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
16. FIFA (6 June 2025). "Fuller shines as USA secure podium place" . Retrieved 6 June 2025.
17. "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.
18. "18yo Arsenal midfielder signs first professional contract". dailycannon.com. 3 January 2025. Archived from the original on 6 January 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.