July 11 – Arsenal are set to make 20-year-old Canada and Liverpool’s Olivia Smith the first ever £1 million women’s player.
The first ever £1 million player in the men’s game was England international Trevor Francis who Notttingham Forest bought from Birmingham City 46 years ago, in 1979.
Arsenal’s offer has reportedly been accepted by Liverpool and surpasses the $1.1 million (€1.02 million) paid by Chelsea for US centre-back Naomi Girma earlier this year. The move signals a significant milestone in the growth trajectory of the women’s transfer market and underlines Arsenal’s ambition to remain at the top of the European game, fresh off the back of a UEFA Womens Champions League title.
Smith joined Liverpool last summer from Sporting Lisbon for a club-record fee reported to be just over £200,000. In her debut Women’s Super League (WSL) campaign, she scored seven goals in 20 appearances—accounting for nearly one-third of Liverpool’s total league output. Despite having multiple years remaining on her contract, Liverpool have opted to cash in, receiving close to five times their initial investment.
The Merseyside club is understood to have rejected multiple approaches for the versatile forward, who can operate both on the wing and as a central striker, before reaching an agreement with the north London side.
The signing will mark Arsenal’s most significant financial outlay in the women’s market to date. Fresh off that Women’s Champions League triumph, the club is targeting squad reinforcements to consolidate their position in Europe and keep that momentum rolling. Smith will join a forward line already featuring established internationals Alessia Russo and Stina Blackstenius, both of whom have featured prominently in this summer’s UEFA Women’s Euro 2025.
The Gunners have already added England winger Chloe Kelly and former Liverpool left-back Taylor Hinds on free transfers, but the Smith deal stands apart for its scale and implications for the women’s game globally.
Prior to this year, the most expensive women’s transfer had been Racheal Kundananji’s $860,000 move to NWSL expansion side Bay FC from Madrid CFF in early 2024. That record was eclipsed by Chelsea’s acquisition of Girma, and now looks set to be surpassed again as Arsenal move aggressively in the market.
Smith, capped 14 times by Canada at senior level, is regarded as one of the most exciting young attacking prospects in the global game.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1752293433labto1752293433ofdlr1752293433owedi1752293433sni@g1752293433niwe.1752293433yrrah1752293433