Arsenal are set to make Olivia Smith the first £1million player in women’s football having agreed a world-record fee with Liverpool.
According to the Guardian, the two clubs have agreed a fee for the Canada forward that exceeds the $1.1m (£881,000) paid by Chelsea to sign United States centre-back Naomi Girma in January.
Smith is set to depart Liverpool after a year at the clubGettySmith joined the Reds from Sporting Lisbon for £210,000 in July 2024, which represented a club-record fee.
She made an immediate impression in her debut campaign in English football, scoring seven goals in 20 Women’s Super League appearances.
This tally saw the 20-year-old finish the season as Liverpool’s top scorer, as she netted just under a third of the team’s league goals across the campaign.
And Smith’s exploits on Merseyside have certainly convinced Arsenal of her worth.
While she is still believed to have several years remaining on her current contract at the club, the Gunners have decided it is worth paying the hefty sum to secure her services.
ESPN report that Liverpool previously rejected several offers from Chelsea and Lyon for Smith, before accepting the record bid.
The deal is subject to personal terms being agreed but Arsenal look to have won the race for the sought-after forward.
And though the Reds are now resigned to losing their star player, the seven-figure deal now will see them receive five times what they paid for her just 12 months ago.
It marks the latest chapter in a remarkable rise for Smith, who first made the headlines when she made 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.
Girma became the most expensive women’s footballer of all-time when she joined Chelsea from San Diego Wave in JanuaryGetty GettySmith has featured 18 times for Canada, scoring four goals[/caption]After starring in Penn State’s University team, Smith then made the move to Portugal to join Sporting in 2023.
Her impact was instant, as she notched up a goal on her league debut, and went on to net 13 times in 18 games in the 2023/24 campaign.
This saw the Toronto-born attacker scoop both the league’s Player of the Year and Young Player of the Season awards, catching the eye of Liverpool, who swooped to sign her.
Despite Smith’s healthy tally of seven goals last term, Liverpool could only finish seventh in the WSL, 35 points behind runaway winners Chelsea.
She will now be hoping her goals can help fire Arsenal to a first league title since 2019.
Despite coming second last term, the Gunners were unable to mount a serious title challenge, as they finished 12 points off Chelsea.
Arsenal extended their recorded as the only British club to become Women’s Champions League winners in MayGettyThere was still plenty of reason to celebrate for the north London side though, as they won the Women’s Champions League for a second time after a 1-0 victory over Barcelona in the final.
Arsenal have been keen to strengthen their squad as they look to defend their European crown, with Smith’s arrival their latest signal of intent.
They have already signed Chloe Kelly on a free transfer from Manchester City, while Smith’s ex-Liverpool teammate Taylor Hinds has also joined for free following the expiry of her contract.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Liverpool accept world-record bid from Arsenal for star in landmark deal )
Also on site :