Arsenal are poised to make Olivia Smith the first-ever £1 million signing in women’s football.
The 20‑year‑old Canadian forward will move from Liverpool to Arsenal after the Gunners reportedly agreed a record-breaking fee—surpassing the previous high of around £890,000 for Naomi Girma earlier this year .
⚽ Deal Highlights
Record Fee: Arsenal’s offer tops £1 million, smashing the previous record and making Smith women’s football’s first seven-figure signing .
Player Profile: Smith joined Liverpool in July 2024 for roughly £210,000 from Sporting Lisbon and went on to score seven goals in 20 WSL appearances, finishing as Liverpool’s top scorer and earning 18 senior caps for Canada .
What It Means for Arsenal: Coming off a UEFA Women’s Champions League triumph, Arsenal are signaling serious ambition—this historic signing is part of a major squad refresh to challenge domestically and in Europe .
Reactions: England winger Lauren Hemp, speaking from the Euro 2025 camp, praised the move as a landmark for the sport: “Proof that women’s footballers are great… that is the way that the game’s going.”
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Why It Matters
Milestone Moment: This marks the first time a women’s football transfer has reached the million‑pound barrier—46 years after the men’s game first did in 1979 .
Market Revolution: With record fees being rebroken multiple times this year—the previous one set just six months ago—this deal highlights the accelerating growth and financial viability of the women’s game .
Liverpool Impact: While the sale is a smart financial move under Fenway Sports Group’s strategy, it’s also drawn criticism—losing a key player like Smith could hinder the club’s competitive aspirations in the WSL .
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In summary: Arsenal’s proposed £1 million deal for Olivia Smith isn’t just a headline—it signals a new era for financial investment and ambition in women’s football. Expect the transfer to be officially confirmed once she passes her medical, likely within the next few days.
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