Liverpool accept world-record offer from Arsenal for one of WSL's brightest young prospects

The archetypal £1 cardinal transportation successful women’s shot is reportedly connected the skyline aft Liverpool accepted a world-record connection from Arsenal for 1 of the WSL's brightest young talents.

Olivia Smith has enjoyed a memorable breakthrough play successful the Women's Super League pursuing her nine grounds £210,000 determination from Sporting CP past summer.

The 20-year-old forward, who made past erstwhile she became Canada's youngest-ever subordinate astatine 15 years and 94 days, finished the word arsenic Liverpool's apical scorer, scoring 7 goals successful 20 WSL appearances.

And now, Smith is acceptable to go the archetypal women’s subordinate to interruption the £1 cardinal transportation obstruction aft the Merseyside nine accepted a world-record bid from Arsenal for her services.

A study from The Guardian suggests the interest agreed exceeds the $1.1 cardinal paid by Chelsea to motion United States centre-back Naomi Girma from NWSL broadside San Diego Wave successful January.

Smith is acceptable to go the astir costly subordinate successful women's shot history. Image credit: Getty

The study besides suggests Liverpool turned down offers from galore clubs for Smith, but aft Arsenal made their move, the Reds are acceptable to person 5 times what they paid successful July past year.

Women’s Champions League winners Arsenal are gathering immoderate superior momentum successful the transportation market.

Earlier this month, England planetary Chloe Kelly arrived connected a escaped transportation from Manchester City, portion Taylor Hinds precocious joined Renee Slegers's broadside pursuing the expiry of her declaration with Liverpool.

Olivia Smith's travel to perchance becoming the archetypal £1 cardinal transportation successful women’s football

It has been a singular emergence for Smith, who archetypal caught the attraction aft making her elder debut for Canada successful November 2019 astatine the property of conscionable 15 years and 94 days. A period later, she was named Canadian Young Player of the Year.

Smith would past notch a extremity and an assistance connected her league debut for Portuguese outfit Sporting CP.

The Toronto-born guardant soon scooped the Player of the Year and Young Player of the Season successful Liga BPI aft scoring 13 goals successful 18 appearances crossed the 2023/24 campaign.

After finishing 4th successful the Women's Super League, Liverpool decided to swoop for Smith successful the summertime of 2024.

"I deliberation it's super-exciting due to the fact that we person specified a young squad and [last] play they were amazing. I'm excited to beryllium a portion of a squad similar this," she said.

"I decidedly consciousness similar I tin lend to the players and the squad and the unit itself - conscionable arsenic a idiosyncratic but besides arsenic a player, pushing for that Champions League spot for adjacent year."

Smith scored 7 goals successful 20 WSL appearances past season. Image credit: Getty

Despite Smith's steadfast tally of 7 goals – which was conscionable nether a 3rd of the team’s league goals crossed the play – Liverpool could lone decorativeness seventh successful the WSL, 35 points down runaway winners Chelsea.