Olivia Smith in the present day grew to become the primary £1million participant in ladies’s soccer after leaving Liverpool to signal for Arsenal.
The 20-year-old solely spent 12 months on Merseyside after becoming a member of from Sporting CP in July 2024, scoring 9 objectives 25 appearances, however that was sufficient to influence the European champions to make her the costliest signing in historical past.
“It’s a privilege and an honour to signal for Arsenal,” mentioned Smith. “It’s my dream to compete for the largest titles right here in England and in Europe and I’m excited to get began and contribute to doing that right here with Arsenal.
“The ambiance the supporters create at Emirates Stadium is unbelievable and I can’t wait to have that behind me now.”
Play like nobody’s watching. As a result of all people is. pic.twitter.com/354RLly7tJ
— Arsenal Ladies (@ArsenalWFC) July 17, 2025
Head coach Renee Slegers was excited to have the Canadian on board, including: “Olivia is an thrilling younger participant and we imagine she will be able to make a giant contribution right here at Arsenal. We’ve been impressed by her mentality and character, excelling in two European leagues at such a younger age.
“I do know she has a degree of ambition that matches our personal and we’re trying ahead to working together with her as she continues to develop on the membership.”
Smith enjoys speedy rise to the highest
Smith got here by means of the US faculty system and made her worldwide debut aged simply 15.
She didn’t flip skilled till she joined Sporting in July 2023, scoring 16 objectives in 28 appearances in her solely season in Portugal.
Her upward trajectory continued at Liverpool by being named the membership’s participant of the season.
Price breaks Chelsea’s earlier file
Arsenal’s signing of Smith breaks the earlier file for a feminine participant, set by Chelsea once they acquired United States defender Naomi Girma from San Diego Wave for £900,000 in January.
The Gunners’ director of girls’s soccer Clare Wheatley mentioned: “We’re thrilled to convey Olivia to Arsenal. She’s one of the crucial proficient younger gamers within the recreation and has large potential for additional improvement right here on the membership.
“On behalf of everybody at Arsenal, I’d prefer to welcome Olivia to Arsenal and congratulate her on this particular second.”
