Whitby’s Olivia Smith Joins Arsenal in Record-Breaking Women’s Soccer Deal
Canadian soccer star Olivia Smith has made history as the most expensive signing in women’s football, joining Arsenal for a record-breaking fee reportedly worth £1 million ($1.34 million CAD).
The 20-year-old forward from Whitby, Ontario, has signed a four-year deal with the English powerhouse, marking a new era of investment in the women’s game. Smith’s transfer surpasses the previous record set earlier this year when Chelsea paid £900,000 to sign Naomi Girma from San Diego Wave.
Smith’s meteoric rise began in the U.S. college system before making her professional debut with Sporting Clube in Portugal, where she netted 16 goals in 28 matches. She later transferred to Liverpool and added nine more goals to her name across 25 appearances.
Her move to Arsenal is not just a personal milestone — it underscores the accelerating growth of women’s soccer worldwide. Just a few years ago, the most expensive women’s transfer was under $400,000. Today, clubs like Arsenal, Chelsea, and Barcelona are leading the charge in multimillion-dollar investments in top female talent.
Smith became Canada’s youngest-ever senior international at age 15 and continues to be one of the country’s brightest prospects. Arsenal head coach Renee Slegers praised her as “an exciting young player” who has “excelled in two European leagues at such a young age.”
Arsenal, already a dominant force in England with 15 domestic titles and two UEFA Women’s Champions League victories, is expected to strengthen its title push with Smith’s addition.
Speaking on her historic signing, Smith said, “It’s my dream to compete for the biggest titles here in England and in Europe, and I’m excited to contribute to doing that here with Arsenal.”
