Olivia Smith is set to become the first £1million women’s player after Arsenal had what would be a world-record bid accepted by WSL rivals Liverpool, according to reports.
The 20-year-old Canadian forward will soon be the game’s most expensive signing with the Gunners willing to pay the sizeable sum for her services, per the Guardian’s Tom Garry.
The fee exceeds the $1.1m paid by Chelsea for the USA centre-back Naomi Girma in January – a move which broke the previous transfer record believed to be the $860,000 paid by Bay FC to sign Zambia international Racheal Kundananji from Madrid CFF in 2024.
CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE. THE ONLY IN THE LAND ❤️ pic.twitter.com/6HELAUEn23
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) May 24, 2025
Smith joined Liverpool for a club-record fee thought to be in the region of £200,000 a year ago before going on to score seven times in 20 Women’s Super League appearances as the Reds finished seventh in England’s top-flight.
She becomes Arsenal’s third summer signing – and second from Liverpool – after the European champions added Lioness Chloe Kelly on a free transfer from Manchester City and left-back Taylor Hinds on another free, after Hinds’ Liverpool contract expired.
Despite lifting the Champions League trophy, Arsenal finished runner-up in the WSL last term, ending the campaign 12 points behind winners Chelsea.
