Laila Minni Harbert (born 3 January 2007) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Women's Super League club Everton on loan from Arsenal and the England under-23s.
.jpg) Harbert with the Portland Thorns in 2025 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Laila Minni Harbert[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 3 January 2007 | ||
| Place of birth | England | ||
| Height | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Everton | ||
| Number | 16 | ||
| 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) | 5 | (0) |
| 2026– | → Everton (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2021–2023 | England U17 | 30 | (5) |
| 2024–2025 | England U19 | 8 | (1) |
| 2025– | England U20 | 3 | (0) |
| 2025– | England U23 | 1 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 14:55, 19 May 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 28 October 2025 | |||
Early life
editClub career
editArsenal
editOn 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)
editAt 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)
editAfter 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] Harbert made 9 appearances across all competitions for Saints.
Portland Thorns (loan)
editOn 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]
Everton (loan)
editInternational career
editHarbert has represented the England Under-17, Under-19 and Under-23 national teams.
Harbert was part of the England squad[13] 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.[14] The midfielder later captained the Under-17 side[15] 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.[16]
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.[17]
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.[18]
Harbert received her first call-up for the Under-23 squad on 15 October 2025, making the jump up from the U-19 squad.[19]
Having made her debut for the Under-23s in a 5-0 defeat to Germany[20], Harbert then received her first call-up for the England Under-20 squad for their first training camp in preparation for the 2026 Under-20 World Cup. Harbert made her debut for the England Under-20 side in a 1-2 win against China.[21]
Playing style
editHarbert has been described as a technical player with vision and a commanding presence. She is known for her passing, both short and long.[22]
Career statistics
editClub
edit- As of match on 16 May 2026[23]
| 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 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | ||
| Everton (loan) | 2025–2026 | Women's Super League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Career total | 29 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 32 | 3 | ||
References
edit- 1 2 "FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Dominican Republic 2024 – Squad List (ENG)" (PDF). FIFA. p. 5. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
- 1 2 "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.
- ↑ "Laila Harbert joins Everton on loan". Laila Harbert joins Everton on loan. 28 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ England, The FA. "England WU23s squad named for first fixtures of 2025-26". England Football. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
- ↑ England, The FA. "Report: Germany 5-0 England WU23s". England Football. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
- ↑ England, The FA. "Report: China PR 1-2 England WU20s". England Football. Retrieved 4 December 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.
- ↑ Laila Harbert at Soccerway