Laila Harbert

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Laila Harbert
Laila Harbert Gotham Portland 26 Sep 2025-122 (cropped).jpg
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 Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Portland Thorns
(on loan from Arsenal)
Number 4
Youth career
2016–2025 Arsenal
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2025– Arsenal 0 (0)
2023–2024 → Watford (loan) 14 (0)
2025 → Southampton (loan) 9 (0)
2025– → Portland Thorns (loan) 2 (0)
International career‡
2021–2023 England U17 31 (5)
2024– England U19 6 (1)
2025– England U23 1 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 11 October 2025
‡ National team caps and goals as of 28 October 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-23s.

Contents

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, Under-19 and Under-23 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]

Harbert received her first call-up for the Under-23 squad on 15 October 2025, making the jump up from the U-19 squad. [18]

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. [19]

Career statistics

As of match on 11 October 2025 [1]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueLeague CupFA CupTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Watford (loan) 2023-2024 FA Women's National League 1402013173
Southampton FC (loan) 2024-2025 Women's Championship 90--90
Portland Thorns (loan) 2025 National Women's Soccer League 20--20
Career total2502013283

References

  1. 1 2 Laila Harbert at Soccerway
  2. 1 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. ↑ England, The FA. "England WU23s squad named for first fixtures of 2025-26". England Football. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  19. ↑ "18yo Arsenal midfielder signs first professional contract". dailycannon.com. 3 January 2025. Archived from the original on 6 January 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
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