Arsenal Women’s Laila Harbert Makes Short-Term Move to Portland Thorns

Arsenal Women’s Laila Harbert has joined National Women’s Soccer League side Portland Thorns on a loan deal until January 2026.

The midfielder has been with the Arsenal since she was nine, signing her first professional contract at the club in January 2025.

She spent the second half of last season on loan at Southampton, having also had a dual-registration with Watford in the 2023/24 campaign.

Internationally she captained England U-17s in 2024 to the Euros final and fourth place at the World Cup, as well as this year contributing to performances at the U-19 European Championship that earned qualification for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. 

Wilf Frith

Wilf Frith is a women’s football news editor who works for Her Goal Magazine and had been with all its predecessors since 1996, becoming a founding team member after running Sunday Kicks. He has also held previous long-term roles as press officer for the Cornwall Women’s Football League and Penzance Ladies FC.

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