Olivia Smith, the Canadian forward who recently became the first £1 million player in women's football, marked her Arsenal debut with a stunning goal, showcasing the talent that prompted the record-breaking transfer. The 20-year-old joined Arsenal from Liverpool in a historic move, and she has already begun to justify the hefty price tag.

The Gunners defeated London City Lionesses 4-1 in front of a crowd of 38,142 at the Emirates Stadium. Despite Arsenal going down early after conceding a penalty, Smith leveled the score with a memorable strike. Cutting in from the left, she unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box that found the back of the net. Her performance earned her the player of the match award.

Smith's journey to Arsenal has been remarkable. Before the record-breaking move to Arsenal, Liverpool reportedly made around £800,000 in profit since signing Smith for just over £200,000 from Sporting Lisbon in July 2024. In July 2025, she signed a four-year contract with Arsenal. Prior to joining Liverpool, she played for Sporting Clube in Portugal, where she made a name for herself by scoring 16 goals in 28 appearances and was named Liga BPI Player of the Season and Young Player of the Season. Her time at Liverpool further solidified her reputation as one of the most promising young players in the game, earning her the club's Player of the Season award and a nomination for the Women's Super League Rising Star award.

Internationally, Smith has also made a significant impact. She became the youngest player ever to represent Canada at the age of 15 in 2019. She has since earned 18 caps and scored four goals for her country, including appearances at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup and the 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup, where she was named Best Young Player.

The acquisition of Smith highlights the increasing investment in women's soccer, with transfer records being broken frequently. Just recently, Chelsea's acquisition of US defender Naomi Girma for £890,000 ($1.1 million) held the record. Other notable transfers include Zambia striker Racheal Kundananji's move to Bay FC for $788,000 and England's Keira Walsh's transfer to Barcelona for $513,000. Smith's transfer to Arsenal signifies a new era in women's football, with clubs willing to invest significant sums in top talent.

Smith has expressed her excitement about joining Arsenal and her desire to win titles. Arsenal coach Renée Slegers praised Smith's mentality and character, expressing confidence in her ability to contribute to the team. Smith will wear the number 15 jersey for Arsenal.