Ethan Laidlaw (footballer)

Ethan Laidlaw
Personal information
Full name Ethan James Laidlaw[1]
Date of birth (2005-01-02) 2 January 2005
Place of birth Edinburgh, Scotland
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position Forward
Team information
Current team
 Brentford
Youth career
–2013 Longniddry Villa
2013–2023 Hibernian
2023– Brentford
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– Brentford 0 (0)
International career
2021–2022 Scotland U17 6 (3)
2022 Scotland U18 2 (0)
2023–2024 Scotland U19 4 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 15:00, 26 January 2026 (UTC)

Ethan James Laidlaw (born 2 January 2005) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Brentford.

Laidlaw is a product of the Hibernian academy and began his professional career with the club. He transferred to Brentford in 2023. He was capped by Scotland at youth level.

Club career

Hibernian

A forward, Laidlaw began his youth career at Longniddry Villa, under the coaching of his father.[3] He entered the Hibernian academy at age 8.[4] Laidlaw was a part of the U14 squad which won the 2018 Foyle Cup and progressed through the academy to sign his first professional contract in February 2021.[5][6] He was an unused substitute during seven first team matches between April 2021 and January 2023.[1] Laidlaw made two Scottish Challenge Cup appearances for the B team and was a part of the 2021–22 SPFL Development League-winning squad which subsequently entered the UEFA Youth League (Laidlaw scoring the winner in a match against Nantes in the competition).[1][4] He turned down a new contract and departed Easter Road when his existing contract expired at the end of the 2022–23 season.[3]

Brentford

On 28 July 2023, Laidlaw transferred to the B team at Premier League club Brentford and signed a two-year contract, with a one-year option,[7] for an undisclosed "six-figure" fee.[4] Though he was not part of the 2024–25 Professional Development League Final-winning matchday squad,[8] Laidlaw received a winner's medal in recognition of his contribution earlier in the competition.[9] He was retained for the 2025–26 season and was an unused substitute during a first team pre-season friendly.[10][11]

International career

Laidlaw was capped by Scotland at U17, U18 and U19 levels.[1][12] He scored a hat-trick on his international debut and was a part of the Scotland's 2022 UEFA European U17 Championship squad.[1][13][14][15]

Personal life

Laidlaw is the son of former Scottish League footballer Steven Laidlaw and his brothers Keir and Josh also became footballers.[3][16] He grew up in Port Seton and attended Preston Lodge High School.[3] Laidlaw is a Hibernian supporter and served the club as a ball boy.[6]

Career statistics

As of match played 27 May 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Hibernian B 2021–22[17] — 1[c] 0 1 0
2022–23[18] — 1[c] 0 1 0
Total — 2 0 2 0
Brentford 2023–24[19] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Career total 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0
  1. ^ Includes FA Cup
  2. ^ Includes EFL Cup
  3. ^ a b Appearance in Scottish Challenge Cup

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Ethan Laidlaw at Soccerway. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  2. ^ Ethan Laidlaw at WorldFootball.net
  3. ^ a b c d Ritchie, Cameron (1 August 2023). "Teenager Ethan Laidlaw signs for Brentford from Hibs". East Lothian Courier. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "Ethan Laidlaw Joins Brentford". Hibernian FC. 28 July 2023.
  5. ^ "Ethan Laidlaw: Who is the young Hibs striker in the squad to face Rangers?". Edinburgh News. 11 April 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Ethan Laidlaw signs first professional contract". Hibernian FC. 8 February 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  7. ^ "Ethan Laidlaw departs for Brentford". www.bbc.co.uk. 28 July 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  8. ^ "Bournemouth U21s 2 Brentford U21s 3: Yogane scores the winner to secure PDL title for young Bees". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  9. ^ @BrentfordFCPDP (23 May 2025). "Ending season 2024/25 with a smile 😀 #BrentfordFC" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
  10. ^ "Brentford B and Academy squads, coaching staff and pre-season updates". Brentford FC. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  11. ^ "QPR 0 Brentford 1: Captain Nathan Collins nets early goal in west London derby win". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  12. ^ Ethan Laidlaw at the Scottish Football Association
  13. ^ McPartlin, Patrick (5 September 2021). "Hibs forward Ethan Laidlaw scores hat-trick as Scotland under-17s edged out by Wales". Edinburgh News. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  14. ^ "A Dream For Ethan Laidlaw". Hibernian FC. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  15. ^ "Scotland Under-17 squad named for Euros". www.scottishfa.co.uk. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  16. ^ Stevie Laidlaw at Soccerbase
  17. ^ "Games played by Ethan Laidlaw in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  18. ^ "Games played by Ethan Laidlaw in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  19. ^ "Games played by Ethan Laidlaw in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
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