Laia Codina Panedas is a Spanish professional footballer born on 22 January 2000 in Campllong, a small town in the Province of Girona, Catalonia.
She began playing football at the age of four with Unió Deportiva Cassà, competing in boys’ teams until she was 14.
In 2014 she joined FC Barcelona’s academy. Alongside her football career she has studied journalism at the Universidad de Vic.
She currently plays for West Ham United in the Women’s Super League and represents the Spain national team.
Siblings
Laia has one sibling, an older sister named Mariona Codina.
In December 2022 Laia shared photographs featuring her grandparents, her mother Núria Panedas and Mariona.
The family maintains strong roots in Catalonia, with connections to the Osona region including Vic and Torelló.
Laia’s mother Núria has spoken openly about her daughter’s lifelong passion for football, noting how the sport has been central to the household from a very young age.
Career
Codina progressed through Barcelona’s youth ranks after joining the club in 2014. She moved up to Barcelona B in 2017 at the age of 16 and later captained the reserve side to promotion.
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She made her first-team league debut in October 2019 against Sporting de Huelva and also featured in the UEFA Women’s Champions League that season.
After establishing herself in the senior squad she spent the 2021–22 season on loan at AC Milan in Italy’s Serie A.
Returning to Barcelona, she contributed to further domestic and European successes before transferring to Arsenal in August 2023.
At Arsenal she adapted to the Women’s Super League, making regular appearances and helping the club secure major trophies.
In June 2026 she signed a three-year contract with West Ham United.
Internationally she has represented Spain at under-19 and under-23 levels before earning senior caps, making her full debut in October 2022.
She played a significant role in Spain’s 2023 World Cup campaign, starting all four knockout matches including the final.
Accolades
With Barcelona, Codina won multiple Primera División titles, the Copa de la Reina, the Supercopa de España Femenina and two UEFA Women’s Champions League trophies, including participation in the club’s historic successes.
During her time at Arsenal she collected the UEFA Women’s Champions League in 2025 and the Women’s League Cup.
At youth level she claimed the 2018 UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship with Spain.
Her most prominent international honour came as a key member of the Spain squad that won the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, where she started every knockout fixture and scored in the round of 16 against Switzerland.
She has also been part of Spain’s UEFA Women’s Nations League triumph.
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