Topics: Liverpool, Arsenal, Womens Football, Womens Super League
The first £1 million transfer in women’s football is reportedly on the horizon after Liverpool accepted a world-record offer from Arsenal for one of the WSL's brightest young talents.
Olivia Smith has enjoyed a memorable breakthrough season in the Women's Super League following her club record £210,000 move from Sporting CP last summer.
The 20-year-old forward, who made history when she became Canada's youngest-ever player at 15 years and 94 days, finished the term as Liverpool's top scorer, scoring seven goals in 20 WSL appearances.
And now, Smith is set to become the first women’s player to break the £1 million transfer barrier after the Merseyside club accepted a world-record bid from Arsenal for her services.
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A report from The Guardian suggests the fee agreed exceeds the £900,000 paid by Chelsea to sign United States centre-back Naomi Girma from NWSL side San Diego Wave in January.
The report also suggests Liverpool turned down offers from numerous clubs for Smith, but after Arsenal made their move, the Reds are set to receive five times what they paid in July last year.
Women’s Champions League winners Arsenal are building some serious momentum in the transfer market.
Earlier this month, England international Chloe Kelly arrived on a free transfer from Manchester City, while Taylor Hinds recently joined Renee Slegers's side following the expiry of her contract with Liverpool.
It has been a remarkable rise for Smith, who first caught the attention after making her senior debut for Canada in November 2019 at the age of just 15 years and 94 days. A month later, she was named Canadian Young Player of the Year.
Smith would then notch a goal and an assist on her league debut for Portuguese outfit Sporting CP.
The Toronto-born forward soon scooped the Player of the Year and Young Player of the Season in Liga BPI after scoring 13 goals in 18 appearances across the 2023/24 campaign.
After finishing fourth in the Women's Super League, Liverpool decided to swoop for Smith in the summer of 2024.
"I think it's super-exciting because we have such a young team and [last] season they were amazing. I'm excited to be a part of a squad like this," she said.
"I definitely feel like I can contribute to the players and the team and the staff itself - just as a person but also as a player, pushing for that Champions League spot for next year."
Despite Smith's healthy tally of seven goals – which was just under a third of the team’s league goals across the season – Liverpool could only finish seventh in the WSL, 35 points behind runaway winners Chelsea.
