A rare double
Olivia Smith was named the PFA Young Player of the Year on Tuesday night. It was her second straight win, after first landing the prize a year earlier in Liverpool colours. Before her, only one other player had managed that feat in the history of the award: Lauren Hemp.
There is a neat detail for Arsenal too. Smith is now only the second player from the club to win it. The first was Leah Williamson in 2014-15. Eleven seasons apart, which says plenty about Arsenal and the talent they keep producing.
The team story, though, was a little more restrained. Just one trophy for the Gunners in 2025-26.
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A million pounds and instant pressure
A year ago, Arsenal paid Liverpool a million pounds to bring her in. At the time, it was a world record fee for a player. Smith had just 38 top-flight European matches behind her. Nothing more.
Her path goes a long way to explaining why Arsenal made the call. First cap for Canada at 15, a national record. At youth level, only Christine Sinclair had done better in front of goal. Sporting CP handed her a first pro contract in July 2023, and she left a year later as the league’s player of the season and young player of the season in Portugal. Then came Liverpool: seven league goals, the highest tally in the squad, and the youngest WSL player to reach more than three goals in 2024-25.
What was left was to answer the critics in front of 38,000 at the Emirates. Against London City Lionesses, Kosovare Asllani put them ahead from the spot in the 17th minute. Twelve minutes later, Smith picked up the ball in the opposition half, beat two defenders and let fly from almost 30 yards. Top corner. Game on.
The next chapter arrives in 2027
“Honestly, you can’t even imagine it. It felt like the weight of the world had been lifted off my shoulders,” she told Opta Analyst. Her father, in the stands, probably felt the same.
A second season in London starts now, and the 2027 World Cup with Canada sits at the end of it. Year one proved the record fee was not too heavy for her. Year two asks a colder question. Medals.
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