Laila Harbert has walked through fire, but her spirit remains unbroken. The 18-year-old midfielder, who joined Portland Thorns this summer on loan from Arsenal, has faced more than her fair share of setbacks. Just six months ago, she was part of a promising trio that had been touted as the future of women's football in England - Michelle Agyemang and Katie Reid, both of whom have since suffered devastating ACL injuries.
The pain of witnessing her friends suffer is still raw for Harbert, who admits to feeling "gutted" about their misfortune. "It's a worrying time for us as players," she says, referring to the rising number of ACL injuries in women's football. "We need something to change and more to be done to find solutions that protect us."
But despite the challenges, Harbert has always been driven by her passion for football. She joined Arsenal's academy at just nine years old, a decision made possible by the sacrifices of her family, who relocated from south London to Hertfordshire so she could train with the first team. "The commitment that the whole family had for me, a 10-year-old with a vision," Harbert recalls.
As a young player, Harbert was forced to adapt to playing with boys, an experience she says challenged her on a fundamental level. "It challenges you on the small details," she explains. "Boys naturally are faster and stronger, so it becomes about how I can use my technical ability to avoid getting into some of the duels that maybe I would be on the back foot for."
But Harbert's journey has not been without its triumphs. She made her debut for England Under-23 in April, just weeks after signing a professional contract with Arsenal. And now, she is one step closer to realizing her dream of playing for the senior England squad.
However, Harbert knows that the road ahead will be tough. The average age of players in the Women's Super League is 25-26, and opportunities are scarce for teenagers like herself. "There's no point in shying away from the fact that it's a long-term plan," she says. "The main thing at my age is just to be getting senior minutes and that senior exposure under my belt."
As Harbert looks to the future, she reminds us all of what truly matters: enjoying the game. "Sometimes I tend to get so wrapped up in the outcome and the idea that I have in my head of where I want to be," she admits. "That can make you forget what really matters, which is enjoying it."
For Harbert, success is no longer just about achieving a specific goal; it's about refining her own definition of success, day by day and month by month. And as she navigates the challenges ahead, one thing is clear: this young midfielder has already proven herself to be unbreakable.
The pain of witnessing her friends suffer is still raw for Harbert, who admits to feeling "gutted" about their misfortune. "It's a worrying time for us as players," she says, referring to the rising number of ACL injuries in women's football. "We need something to change and more to be done to find solutions that protect us."
But despite the challenges, Harbert has always been driven by her passion for football. She joined Arsenal's academy at just nine years old, a decision made possible by the sacrifices of her family, who relocated from south London to Hertfordshire so she could train with the first team. "The commitment that the whole family had for me, a 10-year-old with a vision," Harbert recalls.
As a young player, Harbert was forced to adapt to playing with boys, an experience she says challenged her on a fundamental level. "It challenges you on the small details," she explains. "Boys naturally are faster and stronger, so it becomes about how I can use my technical ability to avoid getting into some of the duels that maybe I would be on the back foot for."
But Harbert's journey has not been without its triumphs. She made her debut for England Under-23 in April, just weeks after signing a professional contract with Arsenal. And now, she is one step closer to realizing her dream of playing for the senior England squad.
However, Harbert knows that the road ahead will be tough. The average age of players in the Women's Super League is 25-26, and opportunities are scarce for teenagers like herself. "There's no point in shying away from the fact that it's a long-term plan," she says. "The main thing at my age is just to be getting senior minutes and that senior exposure under my belt."
As Harbert looks to the future, she reminds us all of what truly matters: enjoying the game. "Sometimes I tend to get so wrapped up in the outcome and the idea that I have in my head of where I want to be," she admits. "That can make you forget what really matters, which is enjoying it."
For Harbert, success is no longer just about achieving a specific goal; it's about refining her own definition of success, day by day and month by month. And as she navigates the challenges ahead, one thing is clear: this young midfielder has already proven herself to be unbreakable.
Laila Harbert's story is giving me LIFE 
She's got that fire in her belly and she's not letting anything bring her down 
I love how she's staying focused on enjoying the game and not getting too caught up in the pressure to succeed 
And can we talk about how underrated ACL injuries are? 
We need more awareness and solutions for these types of injuries, especially in women's football 
Laila Harbert's story is a testament to her unwavering dedication & resilience 
.
she's all about finding a new definition of success and enjoying the game for what it is... 
. I mean, can you imagine having to adapt to playing with boys at such a young age? 
. The fact that she's not just focused on reaching the top but also on refining what success means to her is really admirable 
.
I feel so bad for her friends who got hurt in those ACL injuries 
We need to do something about the frequency of these injuries! 
As a fan, it's frustrating when players get injured because they're just starting to break through... Laila Harbert's story is so inspiring tho 
. I mean, she had to adapt to playing with boys from such a young age and still made it to the top... that takes skill and dedication 
. She's living proof that with hard work and passion, you can overcome obstacles and achieve your dreams 
.
. laila harbert seems like a real trooper, though - she's still pushing forward despite everything. i wonder if it's all just a coincidence or if there's more to it 
. and what's up with the age gap between the players in the women's super league? 25-26 is really young for most sports, right? seems like they're trying to discourage teenagers from pursuing pro careers like harbert 
.
her experiences may have been tough, but they've only made her stronger 
Laila Harbert is literally my spirit animal rn 
I mean, who wouldn't want to play for Arsenal's academy at 9 and then go on to play for England Under-23 just weeks later? 
It's like, we want to protect our girls, but are we doing enough to prevent these injuries in the first place? 
I guess only time will tell, but I'll be watching and waiting... 
. It's amazing that she was forced to play with boys at such a young age, but she totally owns it and uses it as fuel for her growth as a player 
. But Harbert's attitude towards success is so refreshing – it's not just about achieving some goal, but enjoying the journey and finding her own definition of success 
. She went through so much with her friends hurtin' their ACLs, but she didn't let that stop her. She kept pushin', and now she's one step closer to realizin' her dreams 
. She's not just focused on her ultimate goal; she's also taking time to appreciate the little things and enjoy the process of growth 
. We can all learn from her perspective 
, after dealing with some major setbacks last year 
. Her goal is to play for the senior England squad 
️, but we gotta consider that the average age of WSL players is 25-26 
. In 2022, 35% of WSL player injuries were ACL-related 
. She was training with Arsenal's first team at just 9 years old 
... that's crazy talk! And now, she's making her debut for England Under-23s 
. We can't wait to see what the future holds for this talented young midfielder 
.
