Smith, who made her senior international debut for Canada aged 15 years and 94 days in 2019, has long been tipped for stardom. She joined North Toronto Nitros in League 1 Ontario in 2022, winning the golden boot in her debut campaign with 18 goals in 11 games.But it was only in 2023 that she turned professional, signing for Sporting, who fought off competition from Chelsea and Paris St-Germain. Registering 13 goals and nine assists in her first season in Europe as Sporting finished second in Portugal, Smith moved to Liverpool for a club record fee of just over £200,000.She scored seven goals in 20 games for Reds in her debut WSL season before the big-money move to north London. “She played with such confidence last season with Liverpool under Matt Beard. Their player of the year last season,” Brown-Finnis said. “Liverpool would have loved to keep her but with that price tag and when Arsenal come calling, it’s too difficult.” And it was tricky outing for Smith in her first Arsenal game; big-spending newcomers London City led through a penalty from captain Kosovare Asllani. But momentum swung when Smith produced her superb equaliser, thrilling more than 38,000 fans.Arsenal boss Renee Slegers was also pleased. “It’s very special,” Slegers said about Smith’s strike. “It was a fantastic individual action, and a lot of players had good actions, but of course, people come to the stands to watch good goals. “We’re very happy to have Olivia with us. It was a fantastic goal.” Smith added: “Just before the game, [Slegers] told me to be me and just to enjoy it. They brought me here for a reason and that’s what I did today.”
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Olivia Smith: Arsenal forward has a WSL debut to remember in Gunners’ 4-1 win against London City Lionesses
