SpotlightBBC SportUnverified source· 26 Aug 2026
Taekwondo, stats, and sacrifices: Olivia Smith's rise to £1m star
From taekwondo and stats to painful goodbyes, Olivia Smith's path to becoming the first £1m women's footballer was forged early.
O. Samuels-Smith
player
Age
22
Club
Arsenal
Transfer
Joined Arsenal for £1m from Liverpool
Previous fee
£210,000 from Liverpool
Debut
Canada debut at age 15
What happened. Olivia Smith became the first £1m women's footballer when Arsenal signed her from Liverpool, and her early life prepared her for the spotlight.
- She was the first woman to score for Liverpool at Anfield in a WSL match in October 2025.
- She is the first non-English recipient of the PFA Women's Young Player of the Year award, for the second year running.
- Her father Sean encouraged her football from a young age in Whitby, Canada.
“My parents have made a lot of sacrifices taking me to all these places and moving every couple of years.”
— Olivia Smith
Smith's story highlights the sacrifices behind her record-breaking transfer and continued success.
In this story
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