Arsenal Complete World Record £1m Olivia Smith Signing From Liverpool

The first £1m transportation successful women’s shot has been completed aft nan Canada guardant Olivia Smith concluded her record-breaking move from Liverpool to Arsenal.

The 20-year-old has signed a four-year statement pinch nan European champions and, though nan interest is officially undisclosed, aggregate sources opportunity it is nan game’s first to scope nan £1m mark, arsenic revealed by nan Guardian a week ago, successful a historical infinitesimal for nan sport. The erstwhile highest was nan $1.1m paid by Chelsea for nan US centre-back Naomi Girma successful January.

Liverpool are understood to person accepted nan seven-figure connection aft rejecting respective bids and nan nine intend to reinvest nan money into nan squad, having made astir £800,000 successful profit since signing Smith for a club-record interest of conscionable complete £200,000 from nan Portuguese nine Sporting successful July 2024.

Smith, who successful 2019 became Canada’s youngest elder world astatine nan property of 15, scored 9 goals successful 25 appearances for Liverpool.

“It’s a privilege and an honour to motion for Arsenal,” she told nan club’s website. “It’s my dream to compete for nan biggest titles present successful England and successful Europe and I’m excited to get started and lend to doing that present pinch Arsenal. The ambiance nan supporters create astatine Emirates Stadium is unthinkable and I can’t hold to person that down me.”

Arsenal’s head of women’s football, Clare Wheatley, said: “We’re thrilled to bring Olivia to Arsenal. She’s 1 of nan astir talented young players successful nan crippled and has immense imaginable for further improvement here.”

Arsenal, who hit Barcelona successful past season’s Champions League last and are attempting to adhd spot for their effort to take sides that title, person besides signed nan England winger Chloe Kelly, nan erstwhile Liverpool vice-captain Taylor Hinds and nan 24-year-old German goalkeeper Anneke Borbe, each connected free transfers.

Arsenal are understood to person been impressed by nan extended acquisition Smith has accumulated astatine specified a comparatively young property and respect her signing arsenic a awesome infinitesimal for nan club.

The caput coach, Renée Slegers, said: “Olivia is an breathtaking young subordinate and we judge she tin make a large publication present astatine Arsenal. We’ve been impressed by her mentality and character, excelling successful 2 European leagues astatine specified a young age. I cognize she has a level of ambition that matches our ain and we’re looking guardant to moving pinch her arsenic she continues to turn astatine nan club.”