Their new side confirmed the signing on Monday, announcing that they have signed a contract running through to the end of the 2029.
Arsenal Women midfielder Laila Harbert has completed a permanent move to San Diego Wave FC, bringing an end to her long association with the north London club.
The National Women’s Soccer League side confirmed the signing on Monday, announcing that the England youth international has signed a contract running through to the end of the 2029 NWSL season.
Harbert joined Arsenal’s academy at the age of nine and progressed through every level of the club’s youth system before signing her first professional contract in January 2025.
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Although regarded as one of Arsenal’s brightest young midfield prospects, first-team opportunities proved limited, leading to a series of loan spells to continue her development.
The 19-year-old spent the second half of the 2025/26 Women’s Super League season on loan at Everton, while she also gained valuable experience in the United States during a previous loan spell with Portland Thorns FC, making five regular-season appearances in the NWSL.
Earlier in her development, Harbert also featured for Southampton and Watford, continuing her progression through senior football while representing Arsenal.
San Diego’s Sporting Director and General Manager Camille Ashton praised the midfielder after confirming the transfer.
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“We’re really excited to welcome Laila to San Diego. She’s an exciting young talent with exceptional technical quality, vision and composure under pressure.
“We look forward to supporting her continued development and seeing the impact she will make with this team this season and for years to come.”
Harbert also departs Arsenal with an impressive international pedigree.
She has represented England at multiple youth levels and most recently started every match for the Young Lionesses’ Under-19 side as they secured qualification for the 2026 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup.
She also helped England lift the Women’s Under-23 European Friendly Finals in 2025 and captained the Under-17 side to their first-ever UEFA Women’s Under-17 Championship final in 2024 before featuring at the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup later that year.
The move offers Harbert the opportunity to establish herself as a regular first-team player in one of the world’s fastest-growing women’s leagues after spending a decade developing at Arsenal.
For the Gunners, the transfer marks the departure of another academy graduate as the club continues to reshape its squad ahead of the new Women’s Super League season, while Harbert now begins the next chapter of her career in California with San Diego Wave.
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Laila Harbert