Wow, Arsenal has really made history! They’ve become the first women’s club to smash through that £1 million mark by signing 20-year-old forward Olivia Smith from Liverpool. It’s pretty impressive, right? Last season, she managed to score seven goals in just 20 appearances in the Women’s Super League. This transfer is a big deal, especially since it beats the previous record of £890,000 that Chelsea forked out for Naomi Girma from San Diego Wave back in January. And here’s a fun fact: Smith is the youngest Canadian to make her debut and she’s already racked up 18 caps!
When she first joined Liverpool, she really stood out. I mean, she scored a goal and provided an assist on her debut! By the end of that season, she had netted 16 goals in 28 appearances. No wonder she was named Liga BPI Player of the Season and Young Player of the Season! Everyone in Europe had their eyes on her.
Then came her move to Merseyside, where she really shone again. She was named Liverpool’s Player of the Season and even got a nod for the Women’s Super League Rising Star award. Talk about making an impression!
Head coach Renée Slegers shared her excitement: "Olivia is an exciting young player and we believe she can make a big contribution here at Arsenal. We’ve been impressed by her mentality and character, excelling in two European leagues at such a young age. I know she has a level of ambition that matches our own, and we’re looking forward to working with her as she continues to grow at the club." Sounds like they really believe in her potential!
Last season, she had a fantastic breakout year at Liverpool, scoring seven goals in 19 appearances and winning the club's Player of the Season. And now, she’s signed a four-year deal with Arsenal! This transfer not only breaks records but also surpasses Chelsea’s earlier world record move where they paid £833,000 for US center-back Naomi Girma.
Reports say Liverpool accepted that seven-figure offer after turning down several bids before. They’ve turned a tidy profit too, having signed Smith for just £200,000 from Sporting Lisbon last year—so that’s an £800,000 profit!
Looking ahead to the 2024-25 season, it’s interesting to note that only Alessia Russo had more shot-ending carries than Smith in the WSL, with 21 compared to her 20. Plus, she ranked fifth in the league for progressive ball carries among forwards and wingers. Oh, and she also recorded the ninth-most take-ons (61) and came in second for successful take-ons (35) in the WSL. Quite the stats, huh?