Olivia Smith joins Arsenal from Liverpool for world record transfer costs

Liverpool FC confirmed on Thursday that the Canadian attacker Olivia Smith has joined his Women’s Super League rival Arsenal in what is reportedly a record-breaking transfer.

According to the GuardianThe transfer costs for the 20-year-old striker is a million pounds, The most ever paid for a women’s football player.

The previous highest women’s football transfer costs were the 900,000 pounds paid by Chelsea for the American defender Naomi Girma earlier this year.

«It’s a privilege and an honor to sign for Arsenal,» said Smith. «It is my dream to fight to get the biggest titles here in England and in Europe and I am excited to get started and to contribute to Arsenal. The atmosphere that the supporters create at Emirates Stadium is incredible and I can’t wait to have that behind me now.»

Smith came to Liverpool from Sporting Clube (Portugal) in July 2024 and scored nine goals in 25 performances in all matches for the Merseyside Club last season.

She was also named Liverpool’s player of the season and received a nomination for the Women’s Super League Rising Star Award.

«Olivia is an exciting young player and we believe that she can make a major contribution here at Arsenal. We are impressed by her mentality and character, excel in two European competitions at such a young age. I know she has a level of ambition that corresponds to us and we look ahead to work with the club,» Arsenale head coachers.

At the international level, Smith became the youngest player of Canada ever when she won her first cap at the age of 15 in 2019. She represented her country at the FIFA World Cup 2023 and the 2024 Concacaf Gold Cup, where she was named Best Young Player.