.jpg) Harbert with thePortland 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 fromArsenal) | ||
| 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) | 4 | (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 15 November 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 28 October 2025 | |||
Laila Minnie Harbert (born 3 January 2007) is an English professionalfootballer who plays as amidfielder forPortland Thorns FC of theNational Women's Soccer League (NWSL), on loan fromArsenal, and theEngland under-23s.
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]
On 24 May 2024, Harbert made her senior, non-competitive, debut for Arsenal in their1–0 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 againstWashington 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]
At the start of the2023-2024 season, Harbert signed on dual-sign agreement withWomen's National League sideWatford alongside fellow Young GunnersMichelle Agyemang andKatie 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 theFA Cup.[8]
After signing her first professional contract with parent club Arsenal, Harbert signed on loan for the remainder of the2024-25 season withWomen's Championship sideSouthampton FC on 23 January 2025,[9] linking up with former Young GunnerAraya Dennis and current Gunner Vivienne Lia. Harbert made 9 appearances across all competitions for Saints.
On 25 August 2025, Harbert joinedNWSL clubPortland Thorns FC on a loan through the remainder of theThorns' 2025 campaign.[10] She made her NWSL debut one month later, coming on as a second-half substitute forHina Sugita in a 26 September defeat toGotham FC.[11]
Harbert has represented the EnglandUnder-17,Under-19 andUnder-23 national teams.
Harbert was part of the England squad[12] who got to the semi-final of the2023 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship, where they ended their run with a 3–1 defeat toSpain in the semi-finals.[13] The midfielder later captained the Under-17 side[14] to the final of the2024 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship, where they were again beaten by Spain in a 0–4 loss inMalmö,Sweden.[15]
Towards the end of 2024, Harbert was also given the captain's armband for the2024 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 theUnited 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 toSpain, 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]
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]
| 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 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 2 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 25 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 28 | 3 | ||