Layla Banaras

Layla Banaras returned to Wolves in the summer of 2024 on a dual registration from Birmingham City, having worn the Old Gold during the previous season.

She previously created history for Blues when she became the first South Asian heritage woman to represent the club in the professional era when she came on as a second half substitute aged just 16 as Birmingham defeated Huddersfield Town in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup in January 2023.

The versatile wing-back, who can play in defence and midfield, has progressed through the youth ranks at Blues, joining at the age of eight after first starting out at Solihull Moors.

She has previously captained Birmingham’s under-16s before stepping up to represent the club’s development side and won the Academy Players’ Player of the Season award at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.

Although yet to make her debut in the Championship, Banaras has featured a number of times on the substitutes bench at St. Andrew’s and has also been inspiring other young Muslim girls to take up football with her off-field work.

The youngster has developed a healthy eating programme for players when they are fasting through the Holy Month of Ramadan and participated in the Queen’s Baton Relay prior to the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Following her first stint during the second half of last season, Banaras is back with Dan McNamara’s side, signing on a dual registration with Birmingham’s Professional Game Academy.

During her first stint on loan at Wolves, Banaras impressed during her 10 appearances after initially joining in February 2024.