The Arsenal broke the record for women’s transfer, on Thursday (17), when hiring Canadian striker Olivia Smith, of Liverpool, for 1 million pounds ($ 7.5 million), according to media reports. The 20-year-old player became the first female athlete to reach this value.
The bombastic hiring of the current European champion surpasses the previous record established by the transfer of American defender Naomi Girma, by San Diego Wave’s 900,000 pounds to Chelsea in January.
According to the FootballTransfers website, the top 5 is also made up of Zambia’s player Racheal Kundananji, who changed Madrid CFF for Bay FC for about $ 5.2 million; by the Brazilian Tarciane, who left Houston Dash to Lyon for $ 5 million; and also athlete from Zambia Barbra Banda, which was from Shanghai Shengli to Orlando Pride for $ 4.4 million.
The first player in men’s soccer reached the value of one million pounds was former English striker Trevor Francis, when he moved from Birmingham City to Nottingham Forest in 1979.
“It’s my dream to compete for the biggest titles here in England and Europe and I’m excited to start and contribute to do it here with Arsenal,” Smith said in a statement.
The versatile, she can play as a center forward or play at the ends and had a star debut at Liverpool, despite the club’s difficulties.
Smith ended as the club’s top scorer in all nine goals competitions and won the team’s player award, even with Liverpool ending in seventh place at Women’s Super League – after a fourth place in the previous campaign.
Arsenal is building its Champions League triumph with ambitious recruitments, having already reinforced its cast by rehiring Chloe Kelly of Manchester City and Liverpool Taylor Hinds.
But securing Smith represents a statement of intention from the Renee Slegers team, which ended as runner-up in the league, behind champion Chelsea.
