Layla Banaras

Layla Banaras

Banaras playing for Wolves in 2024
Personal information
Date of birth	(2006-02-11) 11 February 2006 (age 19)
Place of birth	Birmingham, England
Position(s)	Defender / Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Lewes
Number	5
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2023–2025	Birmingham City
2024–2025	→ Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan)
2025–	Lewes	1	(0)
International career‡
2025–	Pakistan	3	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 19 August 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 5 July 2025

Layla Banaras (born 11 February 2006) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for FA Women's National League South club Lewes. Born in England, she plays for the Pakistan national team. She stands out as one of the few British South Asian women to reach the senior ranks of English football.

Club career

Banaras made history in January 2023 as the first South Asian heritage woman to appear for Birmingham City in the professional era, debuting in a Women's FA Cup match against Huddersfield Town.

In February 2024, she joined Wolverhampton Wanderers W.F.C. on dual registration from Birmingham City. ^[1]

In August 2025, she joined Lewes F.C. Women for the 2025/26 season. ^[2]

International career

Being of Pakistani descent, Banaras was invited to join Pakistan’s national team setup. She was named in the 21‑player squad for the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification round held in Jakarta as a defender. ^[3]

In Pakistan's second qualifier, where the team beat Indonesia 2–0, Banaras made her first tournament appearance and provided an assist for Nadia Khan’s goal. ^[4] In her second appearance for Pakistan, during the team's third qualifier against Kyrgyzstan, Banaras provided an assist for Mariam Mehmood, who scored both goals in a 2–1 victory. ^[5]

Personal life

Layla Banaras is of Pakistani descent and a practicing Muslim. She was born in Birmingham to a Pakistani father and an English mother.

As a teenager, Banaras became aware of the lack of tailored guidance for Muslim athletes fasting during Ramadan. At just 15, she worked with Birmingham City’s nutritionist to develop a Ramadan-specific meal planner and hydration strategy designed to help players maintain performance during training and matches while fasting. ^[6]

In 2025, she expanded this initiative into the "Ramadan Nutritional Guide and Planner", a comprehensive resource created in collaboration with industry experts to optimize nutrition, hydration, and recovery for Muslim athletes observing the fast. ^[7]

References

1. "Banaras joins Wolves Women on dual registration". Wolves.co.uk. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
2. "Layla Banaras joins Lewes F.C. Women". x.com. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
3. "Banaras named in Pakistan squad". geo.tv. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
4. Rasheed, Mohsin (3 July 2025). "Pakistan Stuns Indonesia with 2-0 Victory in AFC Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers". footballer.pk. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
5. Rasheed, Mohsin (5 July 2025). "Historic: Mariam Mehmood Shines as Women's Team Stuns Kyrgyzstan in AFC Qualifiers". footballer.pk. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
6. "Football and fasting during Ramadan". Sky Sports.
7. "Layla Banaras Launches 2025 Ramadan Nutritional Guide & Planner". ADDMgmt. 3 March 2025.

External links

• Layla Banaras – Birmingham City FC profile
• Layla Banaras – Wolverhampton Wanderers W.F.C.