Canada’s Olivia Smith set for next step with Arsenal after record transfer

The 2025-26 English Women’s Super League season kicks off on Friday and Canadian forward Olivia Smith could have a major say over who hoists the championship trophy by season’s end. 

Chelsea has won six consecutive league titles – and eight of the last nine – as the Blues have asserted their dominance over the English club game. At the same time, fellow London-based club Arsenal has played the role of bridesmaid by finishing either second or third in the table in each of the past six years. But the Gunners have a special ace up their sleeve for this season in the form of Smith, a Canadian youngster who has the potential to become a global superstar in the women’s game. 

Smith, from Whitby, Ont., has enjoyed a rapid rise ever since 2023, when as a freshman at Penn State she decided to forgo her remaining NCAA eligibility in order to turn pro. 

She signed with Sporting Clube that year and scored 16 goals in 28 appearances in her debut campaign with the Portuguese club. Smith was on the move last summer when she signed with Liverpool, where she scored nine goals in 25 games and was named the club’s 2024-25 player of the season. The Canadian was also voted the Professional Footballers’ Association Young Player of the Year. She was the first foreign player to ever take home the honour. 

Arsenal took notice of Smith’s outstanding form for Liverpool and paid the Merseyside club a reported $1.34 million US transfer fee back in July, a move that made the Canadian forward the most expensive player in women’s soccer history. 

“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 when the deal was finalized. 

This world record transfer provides the Canadian youngster with a big opportunity to play on a contender – Liverpool finished seventh out of 12 teams last season and hasn’t won a league title in over a decade. Arsenal, who finished as WSL runners-up, are the reigning UEFA Champions League holders, which means Smith will also get the chance to play alongside some of the best players in the world. 

What makes Smith such a dynamic and dangerous attacker that prompted Arsenal to shell out a record transfer fee for her services?

“In terms of 1v1s and the ability to accelerate and beat a defender, she’s really very, very good. I’ve not seen someone strike a ball with the power and velocity that she can hit it. She’s very good in transition moments,” Canadian women’s team coach Casey Stoney told Sportsnet. 

While Stoney calls the transfer “a fantastic move” for Smith, she warns there’ll also be a steep learning curve and big challenges for the Canadian prospect. 

“Obviously, it’s a big money transfer. With that comes pressure and expectation. She’s a fantastic player. They’ve paid a lot of money for her potential, but if she can continue to develop the way she is, then that’ll be money definitely well spent. She’s still very young. I think we need to remember that. There needs to be an air of caution with her. There’s a lot of maturing to do in certain areas,” Stoney offered. 

Indeed, Smith only turned 21 last month and has less than 50 games of top-flight club soccer under her belt in her first two seasons as a pro. She made her national team debut in 2019 as a 15-year-old and has gone on to score three goals in 18 appearances for her country. 

So, Smith still has a lot to learn, and individual success and playing time at Arsenal shouldn’t be taken for granted. It’ll have to be earned. 

“She’s a great young person that wants to do well. She’s a high achiever, she’s got super talent, and she’s someone that’s going to be integral for Canada moving forward. I think it’s a fantastic move for her, because she’s going to be around some of the best, top players in terms of learning what professionalism is day-to-day,” Stoney said. 

“She’ll be really well coached and supported there, but she’s going to have to perform while playing for Arsenal in the top-pressure games.” 

The transfer will also force Smith to make some tweaks to her playing style. 

Arsenal plays a more possession-based game compared to Liverpool, whose best attacking moments come in transition and on the counterattack. 

“Arsenal dominates the ball. So, she’s going to work in tight areas and be better in combination play and have to beat one or two players and combine and be a little bit more creative in that final third. Because for Liverpool, she was dangerous on transition. They sat back and she was the outlet,” Stoney explained. 

“Now it’s a different role for her at Arsenal. So, those relationships between the fullback and wide players and what that looks like is going to be important for her.” 

In her first year at the helm of the Canadian team, Stoney hasn’t been shy about giving opportunities to young players. Smith has benefited from this philosophy as she’s played in five of the team’s 10 games in 2025 with three starts. 

Stoney views Smith as a key piece for her squad going forward, especially as Canada looks ahead to next year’s qualifiers for the 2027 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. That’s another reason why she’s so pleased that the young forward moved to Arsenal, as it’ll have long-term benefits for the Canadian national team, too. 

“It’s fantastic for me as a head coach. That’s where you want your best players playing. So, it’s a great move for her and I’m really looking forward to seeing how she gets on. … She’s going to make mistakes. She’s not always going to get everything perfect. But if we can put the right support around her, her future’s so bright,” Stoney offered. 

“I’m really pleased it’s happened, because it’s a sink or swim moment, and she’s definitely going to swim, and she’s going to get better from it. So, it’s only going to benefit her and Canada.”