Olivia Smith

Arsenal Women won 3–0 away at OH Leuven in the Women’s Champions League group stage finale, securing a positive end to the group phase, even though they didn't make it to the top four. Olivia Smith opened the scoring in the 18th minute, Beth Mead doubled the lead in the 27th, and Saar Janssen scored an own goal in the 67th minute to complete the win. For Smith it was first UWCL goal ever. 

Despite the win, Arsenal finished fifth in the group phase, meaning they progress to the Champions League knockout playoffs instead of securing an automatic quarter-final spot.

Saturday offered only the match between Arsenal and Liverpool, but that match alone provided several stories. Stories of comebacks, debuts, and comebacks.

• Arsenal's number one, Daphne van Domselaar, is out with a knee injury until January. Number two Manuela Zinsberger is also out with a torn ACL. It was therefore clear that summer signing Anneke Borbe would make her debut.
• Two club legends are also back in the lineup: captain Kim Little and, for the first time this season, vice-captain Leah Williamson, who has been recovering from a knee injury. Unlike Little, however, Williamson has not yet played in a match.
• Olivia Smith opened the scoring, scoring against her former club. However, Liverpool managed to equalize before the end of the first half thanks to Swedish striker Beáta Olsson.
• Stina Blackstenius, who came on in the second half, saved three points for the home side. Arsenal won 2:1, moving them up to third place, at least until Sunday. Liverpool continues to struggle at the bottom of the table. 

She recently celebrated her 21st birthday. She became the most expensive signing in women's football this year when Arsenal bought her from Liverpool for a million pounds. See what convinced Arsenal to make the move.

• Arsenal Women officially signed Olivia Smith, a 20‑year‑old Canada international forward, on a long-term contract .
• There had been speculation about the transfer for some time. It is a record sum in women's football so far—one million british pounds.
• Smith is the latest in a series of summer signings, following teammate Chloe Kelly and Taylor Hinds. Smith joins a strengthened group ahead of a historic season where Arsenal Women will play all 11 WSL home games at Emirates Stadium.

Full story is here.

• Arsenal agreed a transfer fee of £1 million for Olivia Smith, making it the first-ever seven-figure transfer in women’s football. This eclipses the previous record set by Chelsea's January 2025 signing of Naomi Girma for over USD 1.1 million.
• The 20‑year‑old scored seven goals in 20 WSL appearances during her debut season at Liverpool—nearly a third of their league goals—in various attacking roles, including winger and centre-forward.
• This major investment follows free transfers of Chloe Kelly and Taylor Hinds, highlighting Arsenal’s ambition to build on their recent UEFA Women’s Champions League title.

Read the full story on The Guardian.