Naomi

Layzell

VERSatile defender...

Naomi Layzell joined the Club from Bristol City in the summer of 2024 having worked her way through the Vixens’ youth ranks.

She made her first senior appearance for her former employers as a 16-year-old, with her WSL debut, ironically, coming against City at the Joie Stadium soon after.

By 2022/23 Layzell was firmly established in the Bristol City first team, and helped them win the Championship title in 2022/23.

The following year was a tough one for the Vixens, who were relegated back to the second tier, but our defender was voted as the club’s Young Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season at the end of the campaign.

Layzell was undoubtedly the positive in a disappointing term for the Vixens, showing a remarkable composure and maturity beyond her years.

These also earned recognition on the international stage. After being a mainstay in England’s various youth teams – she was invited to train with Lionesses’ senior team in their summer camp of 2024.

A tough tackling defender who possesses the intelligence and ability on the ball, Layzell’s City debut came against Paris FC in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

Her first goal would follow soon after, as she opened the scoring and put in a match-winning display against Barcelona, as the Blues ran out 2-0 victors in front of a record Joie Stadium crowd.

Layzell was injured in the latter stages of that match and wouldn’t return until the new year, but her versatility saw her trusted to operate as both a centre-half and full-back across the rest of the campaign.

She’s sure to keep going from strength to strength at City if her development in that first campaign is anything to go by.