Laura Coombs

Laura Coombs (born 29 January 1991) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Women's Super League club Manchester City and the England national team.

A hard-working defensive midfielder, Coombs is described by former teammate Gilly Flaherty as "a real grafter and she'll put in the work that some people don't want to do." She made her senior career debut for Arsenal in 2007. She went on to play for Chelsea and Liverpool before joining Manchester City in 2019.

Coombs made her debut for the senior England women's national football team in October 2015.

Early career
Coombs began playing football aged seven or eight, when she joined a team run by her best friend's father. She progressed to Arsenal's youth academy and began playing in the first team at 16. In September 2009, Coombs made her UEFA Women's Champions League debut in Arsenal's 9–0 win over PAOK Thessaloniki. In summer 2011, Coombs played for American W-League team Los Angeles Strikers, scoring one goal in eight appearances.

Chelsea
During the mid-season break of the inaugural 2011 FA WSL season, Coombs transferred to Chelsea. Chelsea reached the FA Women's Cup final for the first time in 2012, but were eventually beaten by Birmingham City in a penalty shootout after twice taking the lead in a 2–2 draw. In the 2013 mid-season break, Coombs had another stint with LA Strikers. At the 2013 International Women's Club Championship Coombs scored in Chelsea's 3–2 semi-final win over Sydney FC in Okayama, Japan.

In 2015 Chelsea won their first ever major trophy, in the 2015 FA Women's Cup Final at Wembley Stadium. They then beat Sunderland 4–0 in October 2015 to secure the FA WSL title and a League and Cup "double". Teammates noted an improvement in Coombs' strength and power that season, a result of the team's transition from part-time to full-time training.

Liverpool
Coombs announced a season-long loan move to FA WSL rivals Liverpool on 22 December 2015, the same day as Chelsea signed Karen Carney from Birmingham City. During 2017 she eventually signed a two-year deal with the reds.

Manchester City
After three years at the Merseyside club, Coombs, signed in June 2019, for Manchester City on a two-year contract. She went on to win the 2020 FA Cup with City. During May 2021 Coombs signed a two-year extension with Man City. She later triumphed in lifting the 2022 League Cup title with the Citizens.

In the first half of the 2022–23 season, Coombs almost matched her total appearance count for Manchester City in her previous three seasons with them, having been elevated to a regular starter following the departure of the club's previous starting midfield three; she took on the role of an aggressive centre midfielder. She made her 100th appearances for the club on 17 December 2023.

International career
In July 2009 Coombs featured as England under-19 won the 2009 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship in Belarus, with a 2–0 final win over Sweden. In 2010 England reached the final of the 2010 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship in Macedonia, where they lost their title to France. Coombs had been ruled out by injury before the semi-final.

National coach Mark Sampson gave Coombs her first senior call up in October 2015 for the China Cup. She won her first England cap on 23 October 2015, as a substitute in England's 2–1 defeat by China in Yongchuan, also earning a few minutes in another match of the same tournament. In 2020, she was called up for England training camp but did not play.

Coombs was allotted 193 when the FA announced their legacy numbers scheme to honour the 50th anniversary of England’s inaugural international.

Having not played for England since 2015, Coombs was named in the squad for the 2023 Arnold Clark Cup after performing well with more regular playing time at Man City. The Offside Rule also said that she offers more age and experience for the attacking half of the England squad. She became the oldest player in the squad and said that, though always wanting to represent her country, she had parked those aspirations after not being called up in so long. She came on as a substitute for former City teammate Georgia Stanway in their first match and started in the next. In May 2023, Coombs was named in England's squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Personal life
Coombs graduated from the University of Hertfordshire with a degree in HR and business. She aims to eventually become an entrepreneur.

Honours
Chelsea
 * FA WSL: 2015 FA WSL
 * Women's FA Cup: 2014–15

Manchester City
 * Women's FA Cup: 2019–20
 * FA WSL Cup: 2021–22

England
 * FIFA Women's World Cup runner-up: 2023
 * Women's Finalissima: 2023
 * Arnold Clark Cup: 2023

Individual
 * PFA WSL Fans' Player of the Month: December 2022