Coombs to retire at end of season | OneFootball

Laura Coombs has announced that she will call time on her professional playing career at the end of the 2025/26 season.

The midfielder has spent the majority of her 19-year career in the game at Manchester City and rightly goes down as one of our finest servants.

Joining the Club in the summer of 2019, Coombs has gone on to make 147 appearances and also became just the fourth player in Barclays Women’s Super League history to feature 200 times in November 2025.

A hard-working, intelligent midfielder with excellent technical ability and an eye for goal, Coombs also earned seven senior international caps for England and was part of the squad who reached the 2023 World Cup final.

But after a career of incredible moments and milestones, Laura has now decided it’s time to end this chapter in her story.

“I’m so excited to be a fan of this team in the future,” Coombs said.

“What they’re trying to build here, I think it’s incredible. 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.”

Managing Director Charlotte O’Neill led the tributes to Coombs, saying: “Laura has been a true cultural architect and heartbeat of Manchester City Women. Her professionalism, drive, and humility have set a standard that others have naturally followed.

“It has been an honour to have her in our club, not only does she bring her best self everyday in training and matches, but she also brings out the best in her team-mates. I only have the highest praise for Laura, she is a shining example to our younger players of what an elite player and all-round top person looks like.”

Director of Football Therese Sjogran added: “It’s been a pleasure to work with Laura and it’s clear to see why she’s so respected and admired in the game.

Picture Special

Coombs’ City story so far in pictures

“She’s always been a fierce competitor on the pitch, bringing the best out of her team-mates in training and matches, but her ability to also put an arm around a shoulder and support her friends in the good and bad moments is equally important.

“Her reputation as a fantastic football player is beyond doubt, but she’s an even better human being.”

Head Coach Andrée Jeglertz said: “From a coach’s perspective, Laura is a dream to work with. She has brought focus, tactical awareness, and an incredible work ethic every single day.

“Players like Laura give you trust — you know exactly what you will get, and it is always at a high level. Her influence goes far beyond her performances; she has helped shape strong team cultures wherever she has been.”

A lasting legacy

You have to take both on-pitch achievements and off-pitch impact into account to get a true measure of Laura Coombs’ contributions at Manchester City.

With 147 appearances, one FA Cup and one League Cup to her name, the midfielder has more than earned the hero’s farewell she’s sure to receive from the City supporters.

Only Steph Houghon, Keira Walsh, Demi Stokes, Lauren Hemp, Jill Scott, Georgia Stanway and Alex Greenwood have turned out more for the Blues, while her 27 goals are bettered only by Georgia Stanway, Caroline Weir and Izzy Christiansen among her midfield peers.

That legacy goes beyond City, though, with Coombs’ appearance in our WSL win over West Ham United in November 2025 seeing her become just the fourth player in the competition’s history to feature 200 times.

The fact that the midfielder has rarely been one to hog the limelight also shouldn’t diminish the crucial role she’s often played in City’s recent successes.

While spending the majority of her time in Manchester in the engine room, her tactical intelligence, energy and experience have also seen Coombs play out wide, as a second striker or even as centre-forward when called upon.

Slotting seamlessly into those positions and adapting quickly to their unique demands emphasises that value while also demonstrating one of Laura’s greatest qualities: she’s the ultimate team player.

It’s another example of why, despite her numerous achievements on the pitch, she’ll be missed just as keenly off it.

A hugely popular and respected figure among players and staff alike, she’s been an influential leader in the dressing room, particularly in the latter period of her seven-year stay at City.

But she’s also left a lasting impact on the Club itself, having played an important role in some design elements of our new Women’s First Team Building.

Her passion for interior design, shared with Lauren Hemp as revealed in the latter’s recent episode of the official Man City podcast, has certainly been put to good use.

Laura’s contributions on the pitch will never be forgotten, but it’s poignant that the midfielder’s efforts will continue to positively impact our players for many years to come now she’s decided to hang up the boots.