diff --git a/src/wp-includes/media.php b/src/wp-includes/media.php
index 04fb27608a..0da68e3d43 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/media.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/media.php
@@ -5643,6 +5643,11 @@ function wp_get_loading_optimization_attributes( $tag_name, $attr, $context ) {
 		return $postprocess( $loading_attrs, true );
 	}
 
+	// The custom header image is always expected to be in the header.
+	if ( 'get_header_image_tag' === $context ) {
+		return $postprocess( $loading_attrs, true );
+	}
+
 	// Special handling for programmatically created image tags.
 	if ( 'the_post_thumbnail' === $context || 'wp_get_attachment_image' === $context ) {
 		/*
diff --git a/src/wp-includes/theme.php b/src/wp-includes/theme.php
index 32fd55df5e..dfc0a4e063 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/theme.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/theme.php
@@ -1237,10 +1237,11 @@ function get_header_image_tag( $attr = array() ) {
 	$attr = wp_parse_args(
 		$attr,
 		array(
-			'src'    => $header->url,
-			'width'  => $width,
-			'height' => $height,
-			'alt'    => $alt,
+			'src'      => $header->url,
+			'width'    => $width,
+			'height'   => $height,
+			'alt'      => $alt,
+			'decoding' => 'async',
 		)
 	);
 
@@ -1265,6 +1266,29 @@ function get_header_image_tag( $attr = array() ) {
 		}
 	}
 
+	$attr = array_merge(
+		$attr,
+		wp_get_loading_optimization_attributes( 'img', $attr, 'get_header_image_tag' )
+	);
+
+	/*
+	 * If the default value of `lazy` for the `loading` attribute is overridden
+	 * to omit the attribute for this image, ensure it is not included.
+	 */
+	if ( isset( $attr['loading'] ) && ! $attr['loading'] ) {
+		unset( $attr['loading'] );
+	}
+
+	// If the `fetchpriority` attribute is overridden and set to false or an empty string.
+	if ( isset( $attr['fetchpriority'] ) && ! $attr['fetchpriority'] ) {
+		unset( $attr['fetchpriority'] );
+	}
+
+	// If the `decoding` attribute is overridden and set to false or an empty string.
+	if ( isset( $attr['decoding'] ) && ! $attr['decoding'] ) {
+		unset( $attr['decoding'] );
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Filters the list of header image attributes.
 	 *
diff --git a/tests/phpunit/tests/theme/customHeader.php b/tests/phpunit/tests/theme/customHeader.php
index 21350deeda..13455df663 100644
--- a/tests/phpunit/tests/theme/customHeader.php
+++ b/tests/phpunit/tests/theme/customHeader.php
@@ -174,6 +174,82 @@ class Tests_Theme_CustomHeader extends WP_UnitTestCase {
 		$this->assertStringContainsString( sprintf( 'src="%s"', $custom ), $html );
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Tests default values of performance attributes for "get_header_image_tag".
+	 *
+	 * @ticket 58680
+	 */
+	public function test_get_header_image_tag_with_default_performance_attributes() {
+		$this->add_theme_support(
+			array(
+				'default-image' => 'http://localhost/default-header.jpg',
+				'width'         => 60,
+				'height'        => 60,
+			)
+		);
+
+		add_filter(
+			'wp_min_priority_img_pixels',
+			static function() {
+				return 2500; // 50*50=2500
+			}
+		);
+
+		wp_high_priority_element_flag( true );
+
+		$html = get_header_image_tag();
+		$this->assertStringNotContainsString( ' loading="lazy"', $html );
+		$this->assertStringContainsString( ' fetchpriority="high"', $html );
+		$this->assertStringContainsString( ' decoding="async"', $html );
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Tests custom values of performance attributes for "get_header_image_tag".
+	 *
+	 * @ticket 58680
+	 */
+	public function test_get_header_image_tag_with_custom_performance_attributes() {
+		$this->add_theme_support(
+			array(
+				'default-image' => 'http://localhost/default-header.jpg',
+				'width'         => 500,
+				'height'        => 500,
+			)
+		);
+
+		$html = get_header_image_tag(
+			array(
+				'fetchpriority' => '',
+				'decoding'      => '',
+			)
+		);
+		$this->assertStringNotContainsString( ' fetchpriority="high"', $html );
+		$this->assertStringNotContainsString( ' decoding="async"', $html );
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Tests custom lazy loading for "get_header_image_tag".
+	 *
+	 * @ticket 58680
+	 */
+	public function test_get_header_image_tag_with_custom_lazy_loading() {
+		$this->add_theme_support(
+			array(
+				'default-image' => 'http://localhost/default-header.jpg',
+				'width'         => 500,
+				'height'        => 500,
+			)
+		);
+
+		$html = get_header_image_tag(
+			array(
+				'loading' => 'lazy',
+			)
+		);
+		$this->assertStringNotContainsString( ' fetchpriority="high"', $html );
+		$this->assertStringContainsString( ' loading="lazy"', $html );
+	}
+
 	public function test_get_custom_header_markup_without_registered_default_image() {
 		$this->add_theme_support();