LONDON, July 17 (Agencies): Canada forward Olivia Smith has become the most expensive signing in women's football history by completing a $1.5 million (£1m) move to Arsenal from Liverpool.
European champions Arsenal shattered the women's transfer record by signing her on Thursday,
The 20-year-old, who made her international debut at 15, has signed a four-year deal with the Champions League holders.
Smith's move breaks the record set by Chelsea in January when they signed USA defender Naomi Girma for $1 million (£900,000) from San Diego Wave.
"It's a privilege and an honour to sign for Arsenal," said Smith.
"It's my dream to compete for the biggest titles here in England and in Europe and I'm excited to get started and contribute to doing that here with Arsenal."
Smith, who only turned professional in 2023, joined Liverpool from Portuguese side Sporting a year ago for a club record fee of just over £200,000.
Arsenal head coach Renee Slegers said Smith is an "exciting young player" who can make a "big contribution".
She scored seven goals in 20 Women's Super League games in her debut season as Liverpool finished seventh.
Liverpool are without a manager since sacking Matt Beard in February, with former Manchester City boss Gareth Taylor the leading candidate to take over.
"It's my dream to compete for the biggest titles here in England and in Europe and I'm excited to get started and contribute to doing that here with Arsenal," Smith said.
Liverpool are understood to have accepted the record offer after rejecting several bids for Smith, who made her Canada debut aged 15 in 2019.
Arsenal head coach Renee Slegers said: "Olivia is an exciting young player and we believe she can make a big contribution here at Arsenal.
"We've been impressed by her mentality and character, excelling in two European leagues at such a young age."
The versatile Smith, who can operate as a striker or play on the wing, enjoyed a stellar debut season at Liverpool despite the club's struggles.
Smith finished as Liverpool's leading scorer across all competitions with nine goals to claim their player of the season award, even as Liverpool slumped to seventh in the Women's Super League after a fourth-placed finish the previous campaign.
Arsenal are building on their Champions League triumph with ambitious recruitment having already bolstered their squad by re-signing Chloe Kelly from Manchester City as a free agent. They also snapped up left back Taylor Hinds from Liverpool after her contract expired. But securing Smith represents a statement of intent from Renee Slegers's side, who finished as runners-up to Chelsea in the league.
Smith's football journey began aged five when she joined Whitby Iroquois SC, and she made her debut in the Canada youth set-up at 12.
Fast forward three years to 2019 and she was catapulted on to the international stage, featuring against Brazil and New Zealand at an invitational tournament in Chongqing, China.
Smith went on to represent Canada at two Concacaf Women's U20 Championships (2022, 2023) and two Women's U20 World Cups (2022, 2024), and returned to the senior side in 2023, earning selection for that year's World Cup.
She scored her first international goal in a 6-0 victory over El Salvador at the 2024 Gold Cup and was named the tournament's best young player. Smith is seen not only as the successor to talismanic
record goalscorer Christine Sinclair but the key to Canada's hopes of winning international honours. At club level, Smith began her career in 2022 with North Toronto Nitros in League 1 Ontario, winning the golden boot in her debut campaign with 18 goals in 11 games. She then spent one season in the NCAA playing college football for Penn State Nittany Lions before forgoing the rest of her university eligibility to turn professional, signing a three-year contract with Sporting in July 2023.
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