A groundbreaking deal in women's football is set to see Canadian forward Olivia Smith transfer from Liverpool to Arsenal for a record-breaking fee of £1 million. The move will make the 20-year-old the most expensive player in the history of the women's game.
The agreement, reached on Thursday, will see the reigning Champions League winners, Arsenal, secure the highly-rated attacker who impressed in her debut season in the Women's Super League (WSL). Smith scored seven goals in 20 league appearances for Liverpool, a performance that also earned her the club's Players' Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards.
This landmark transfer shatters the previous record held by American defender Naomi Girma, who moved to Chelsea from San Diego Wave for approximately $1.1 million (£900,000) in January. Liverpool, who signed Smith from Sporting CP for around £200,000 in July 2024, are set to make a significant profit from the sale after rejecting several previous offers for the young star.
Smith's journey to this historic moment began at a young age. At just 15, she became the youngest player to be called up to the Canadian senior national team. She has since earned 18 caps for her country, contributing three goals and three assists.
The move is a significant statement of intent from Arsenal as they look to build on their European success and challenge for the WSL title. For Liverpool, the departure of their star player marks a major piece of business, though they now face the task of replacing her attacking prowess. The transfer underscores the growing financial investment and increasing valuation of top talent within women's football.
