Libby Smith (footballer)

Libby Smith

Smith playing for Leicester City in 2021
Personal information
Date of birth	(2001-03-11) 11 March 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth	Leicester, England
Position(s)	Forward, winger
Team information
Current team	Birmingham City
Number	9
Youth career
	Thetford Town
	Chelsea
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018–2021	Leicester City	38	(5)
2021–	Birmingham City	61	(8)
International career‡
2017–2018	England U17	4	(1)
2018–2019	England U18	6	(1)
2019–2020	England U19	4	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:12, 3 November 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12:15, 9 March 2020 (UTC)

Libby Smith (born 11 March 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Women's Championship club Birmingham City, and previously played for Leicester City.

Born in Leicester,^[1] Smith joined Leicester City aged 7.^[2] She is also a product of the Chelsea academy,^[1] and played for Thetford Town in Norfolk, making four appearances for the girls team.^[3]

On 30 June 2021, having helped Leicester City in the 2020–21 season to gain promotion to the Women's Super League for the first time in the clubs history,^[4] while playing as a right-back,^[5] it was announced that Smith would be among nine players leaving the club.^[4]

On 28 July 2021, Smith signed for Women's Championship club Birmingham City.^[6]

On 10 January 2022, during the 2021–22 season in the WSL, Smith featured in the stunning defeat against league leaders Arsenal, scoring the opening goal in the 2–0 victory that ended Arsenal's unbeaten run.^[7][8] Her goal in the third minute that caught out Arsenal's defenders, described as "beautiful in its simplicity" by Optus Sport, would also be her debut goal in the top tier of English women's football.^[9][10]

With City relegated back to the Championship for the 2022–23 season, they faced top tier opposition again for the first time against Brighton & Hove Albion in the League Cup, with Smith scoring an important goal in the 3–2 victory.^[11]

In her youth international career, Smith represented the England under-17s, under-18s, and under-19s, while captaining the latter.^[6] In July 2019 she was called up to the under-18s for three friendly matches,^[12] and in March 2020, she played in La Manga Tournament in Spain for the under-19s.^[13]

Smith can play as a winger for striker and in 2020–21 played a season at right-back.^[6] Former Birmingham City team mate Jade Pennock described Smith as a creative, attack-minded player.^[14]

Leicester City

• Women's Championship: 2020–21^[15]

Birmingham City

• Women's Championship: 2022–23 runner up^[15]

• Libby Smith at Soccerway
• Media related to Libby Smith at Wikimedia Commons