Laura Coombs to retire after 19-year career spanning Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City

Key facts

• Laura Coombs, 35, will retire at the end of the 2025/26 season.
• She made 154 appearances for Manchester City across all competitions.
• Coombs made her England debut in 2015 and earned two caps before an eight-year hiatus.
• She was recalled by Sarina Wiegman in 2022/23 and named in England's 2023 World Cup squad.
• Coombs started her career at Arsenal and also played for Nottingham Forest, Los Angeles Strikers, Chelsea, Barnet, and Liverpool.
• She won both domestic cups with Manchester City.
• Manchester City will host Liverpool at The Joie Stadium this weekend, where fans can pay tribute.

A career bookended by Arsenal and City, with a World Cup final in between

Laura Coombs, the Manchester City midfielder, will retire from professional football at the end of the season, bringing a close to a 19-year career that took in eight clubs and a late England renaissance culminating in a World Cup final. The 35-year-old announced her decision through an official club press release, with City confirming she will play her final matches before the 2025/26 campaign concludes. Coombs joined Manchester City in the summer of 2019 and went on to make 147 appearances for the club, scoring several memorable goals and winning both domestic cups. Her journey began at Arsenal, before spells at Nottingham Forest, Los Angeles Strikers, Chelsea, Barnet, and Liverpool. She returned to the top flight with City and became a key figure in their midfield.

Wiegman hails Coombs’ character after late England recall

England manager Sarina Wiegman paid tribute to Coombs, saying she “can be very proud of everything she has achieved, both with England and her success in the domestic game.” Coombs made her England debut in 2015 and earned two caps before an eight-year absence from the national team. Her performances for City in the 2022/23 season forced a recall, and Wiegman named her in the squad for that summer’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, where the Lionesses reached the final. “Laura’s journey through the development teams to being part of the World Cup squad in 2023 says a lot about her qualities and her character,” Wiegman said. “In my time working with her, Laura always demonstrated the values of what it means to be a Lioness and made a big contribution to the team at an important time.”

Coombs: ‘I’m so excited to be a fan of this team’

In her own statement, Coombs expressed excitement about the future of Manchester City’s women’s team. “I’m so excited to be a fan of this team in the future. What they’re trying to build here, I think it’s incredible,” she said. “The way Manchester City are putting our women’s team in a position to really go on and be successful long-term is so exciting. I’m very glad I got to play a part in that and I’m very excited to watch in the future.” Her words underscore a sense of satisfaction with the club’s direction, even as she steps away from playing. Coombs will exit at a time when City are investing heavily in their women’s setup, aiming to challenge for the Women’s Super League title and in Europe.

Fans to honour Coombs at final home game against Liverpool

Manchester City supporters will have the chance to bid farewell to Coombs this weekend when the team takes on Liverpool at The Joie Stadium. The fixture, which falls near the end of the season, is expected to include a tribute to the midfielder’s contribution. Coombs has made 154 appearances for City in all competitions, a testament to her consistency and durability. She joined the club in 2019 and quickly established herself as a mainstay in midfield, known for her passing range and work rate. Her trophy haul with City includes both domestic cups, though a league title eluded her. She leaves with the club still in contention for silverware this season.

A legacy of resilience and reinvention

Coombs’ career is notable not just for its length but for its arc. After early promise at Arsenal and Chelsea, she spent years outside the England setup before forcing her way back at an age when many players are winding down. Her recall by Wiegman in 2023, after an eight-year international hiatus, was one of the more remarkable stories of that World Cup cycle. She went from being a domestic performer to a squad member at the global showpiece, a journey that Wiegman said “says a lot about her qualities and her character.” Wiegman added that the FA hopes to celebrate Coombs’ career at an England match in the near future, ensuring her contribution to the national team is formally recognised.

What comes next for Coombs and Manchester City

Coombs has not announced her plans beyond playing, but her statement suggests she intends to remain involved in football, perhaps in a different capacity. “I’m very excited to watch in the future,” she said, hinting at a move into fandom or potentially a non-playing role. For Manchester City, her departure marks the end of an era for a player who embodied the club’s rise in the women’s game. The team will need to fill a void in midfield, but the club’s long-term investment in the women’s side suggests they are prepared to build for the future. As the season draws to a close, Coombs will play her final games, leaving behind a legacy of resilience, loyalty, and a late-career renaissance that few players manage to achieve.

The bottom line

• Laura Coombs retires at 35 after 19 years as a professional, with 154 appearances for Manchester City.
• She made a surprise England comeback in 2023, eight years after her last cap, and played in the World Cup final.
• Coombs won domestic cups with City and played for seven other clubs, including Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool.
• Sarina Wiegman praised her character and contribution, calling her a true Lioness.
• Fans can honour Coombs at City’s home match against Liverpool this weekend.
• Her retirement signals the end of a career defined by persistence and reinvention.