Arsenal have had a world-record bid in excess of £1m accepted by Women’s Super League (WSL) rivals Liverpool for Canadian forward Olivia Smith, in what is set to become the most expensive transfer in women’s football history.
The deal, which surpasses the £900,000 Chelsea paid for US defender Naomi Girma in January, is subject to Smith completing a medical and agreeing personal terms with the Gunners.
The 20-year-old, who joined Liverpool from Sporting CP last summer for a then club-record fee of just over £200,000, impressed in her debut WSL campaign by scoring seven goals in 20 appearances. She still has two years remaining on her contract.
Smith has also featured prominently on the international stage, earning 18 caps for Canada and scoring four goals.
Arsenal have already strengthened their squad this summer with the addition of Chloe Kelly on a free transfer from Manchester City, as well as left-back Taylor Hinds, who arrived from Liverpool.
Smith’s arrival is seen as another signal of intent from a side looking to dominate both domestically and in Europe.
Liverpool, who finished seventh in the WSL last season, view the sale of Smith as a chance to reinvest and strengthen their squad.
The Merseyside club has been without a manager since February following the sacking of Matt Beard, with former Manchester City boss Gareth Taylor emerging as the frontrunner for the role.
Reacting to the record-breaking move, former Manchester City and England midfielder Izzy Christiansen described the fee as “massive” and a sign of the rapid growth in the women’s game.
“She is in the very early stages of her career but she is going to a good club,” Christiansen said on Thursday night. “They have a very strong frontline and depth in it.
This is Arsenal adding layers to a Champions League-winning squad who will want to go and do it again. I’m sure their prerogative will be to win the WSL as well.”
Smith will face stiff competition for a starting spot in a star-studded Arsenal attack featuring Chloe Kelly, Beth Mead, Caitlin Foord, Katie McCabe, Alessia Russo, and Stina Blackstenius.
“It is early days to say whether she starts or not,” Christiansen added. “I’m sure it is a project for the near future in an Arsenal shirt. It is some fee and quite something for the women’s game.”