Laila Harbert's path to professional football has been anything but straightforward. The 18-year-old midfielder joined Arsenal's academy at nine and quickly became accustomed to training with both the boys' and girls' teams. "It challenges you on the small details," she reflects on her experiences, noting that playing against faster and stronger opponents has forced her to refine her technical ability.
Her journey has not been without its sacrifices, however. Harbert's family relocated from south London to Hertfordshire in order to be closer to Arsenal's training base, allowing her to travel less and focus on her performance levels. "The commitment that the whole family had for me, a 10-year-old with a vision," is how she describes their efforts.
Despite this supportive environment, Harbert has faced challenges of her own. In June, Michelle Agyemang and Katie Reid both suffered ACL injuries while playing for Arsenal, and Harbert was deeply affected by the news. "It's the kind of news you never want anyone to receive, especially about your closest friends," she says, highlighting the need for greater protection measures in football.
Now, as she navigates her third loan move with Portland Thorns, Harbert is determined to up her game and make a lasting impact. She describes watching Agyemang and Reid do what they've done in the past six months as "special," adding that their success motivates her to work harder and earn her own chance.
The road ahead is uncertain, but Harbert remains focused on refining her definition of success day by day and month by month. "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 acknowledges, recognizing the importance of enjoying the journey as much as achieving goals.
With Portland's playoff run set to conclude with a potential title win on November 22, Harbert's loan will come to an end. While her future at Arsenal remains uncertain, she knows that the club has a plan in place for her development and is eager to see it unfold.
Her journey has not been without its sacrifices, however. Harbert's family relocated from south London to Hertfordshire in order to be closer to Arsenal's training base, allowing her to travel less and focus on her performance levels. "The commitment that the whole family had for me, a 10-year-old with a vision," is how she describes their efforts.
Despite this supportive environment, Harbert has faced challenges of her own. In June, Michelle Agyemang and Katie Reid both suffered ACL injuries while playing for Arsenal, and Harbert was deeply affected by the news. "It's the kind of news you never want anyone to receive, especially about your closest friends," she says, highlighting the need for greater protection measures in football.
Now, as she navigates her third loan move with Portland Thorns, Harbert is determined to up her game and make a lasting impact. She describes watching Agyemang and Reid do what they've done in the past six months as "special," adding that their success motivates her to work harder and earn her own chance.
The road ahead is uncertain, but Harbert remains focused on refining her definition of success day by day and month by month. "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 acknowledges, recognizing the importance of enjoying the journey as much as achieving goals.
With Portland's playoff run set to conclude with a potential title win on November 22, Harbert's loan will come to an end. While her future at Arsenal remains uncertain, she knows that the club has a plan in place for her development and is eager to see it unfold.
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I feel like Laila Harbert is literally my future self lol. Like, who wouldn't want to make a difference on the pitch? 
But seriously, I think it's so inspiring that she's willing to put in the work and sacrifice for her dreams. 
That would be such a dream come true! 
And I'm totally with her on wanting more protection measures in football - it's crazy how injuries happen, especially when they do. 
I hope she gets that chance to shine at Arsenal soon though! 
It's not like they had to sacrifice their own dreams or anything. And yay for Harbert getting a loan move with Portland Thorns! Who needs stability and continuity when you can have a quick three-month stint at a new team? 
I'm sure the constant uncertainty will really help her develop and grow as a player... meanwhile, I'll just be over here wondering if she'll ever make it back to Arsenal.
. I mean, we're just sitting here thinking about our own lives and commitments, but she's gotta deal with the pressure of making a name for herself in this sport? 
That kind of dedication is real 
. And yikes to those ACL injuries! Can't imagine how tough it must've been on her. Hopefully, she'll be able to use that experience to fuel her own success and not get too caught up in the journey 
. But at the same time, you can tell how grateful she is for their support 
. That's such an important lesson, especially for young athletes like her. And I'm rooting for her to do well with Portland Thorns - a title win would be amazing! 
️ Can't wait to see what happens next for her 
she's like totally grinding out there on the pitch & it's inspiring 2 c her growth from being just a 9 yr old joinin Arsenal's academy 
but omg y does this sport have 2 b so physically demanding? i mean acl injuries r no joke 
gotta support these young athletes & make sure they got the protection they need 
. I hope Laila can find her footing with Portland and earn a spot at Arsenal soon. But what I love most about this story is how she's focusing on enjoying the journey, not just the end goal 
those acl injuries are super tough to deal with even if they do heal properly u can never get the same timing back on ur game or somethin 
they moved to hertfordshire 4 her 2 b closer 2 arsenal's base so she could focus n improve 
and now she's tryna make a name 4 herself @ portland thorns w/ only one more loan stint left 
. Fingers crossed she'll get back to Arsenal soon with an even brighter future ahead! 
i was thinking about getting a new laptop recently and i'm not sure if i should get a gaming one or a normal one? 
Laila's story is literally so inspiring! She's already had to deal with some tough stuff, like relocating her whole family and dealing with injuries from close friends - it's totally not easy being a pro footballer 
. But she's still out there grinding and determined to make an impact 
. I love how she's acknowledging the importance of enjoying the journey too - we need more people to remember that goals aren't everything, you know? 
Her positivity is infectious, and I'm totally rooting for her to succeed!