Arsenal head coach Renee Slegers has hailed Olivia Smith for her ‘rocket career’ to date and believes there’s ‘so much potential’ in the Gunners’ summer signing.
Smith made headlines during the summer by becoming the first £1 million player in women’s football history.
She joined the Gunners after one season at Liverpool, where she scored seven goals in 20 Women’s Super League (WSL) appearances.
Smith made an instant impact to life at Arsenal, scoring a stunning long-range effort 29 minutes into their 4-1 victory over the London City Lionesses.
Ahead of Arsenal’s trip to West Ham on Friday night, Slegers paid tribute to Smith during her pre-match press conference.
What did Renee Slegers say about Olivia Smith?
Arsenal head coach Renee Slegers says she has long been impressed with the 21-year-old Canadian international Olivia Smith.
She said: “I was already impressed before we signed her. She’s had a rocket career coming from Canada, USA, Portugal and one season in the WSL and making such an impact for Liverpool.
“I was really impressed with her and she adds new things to our game with the type of player she is. We’re really happy with what she’s bringing to us, but she’s also very young, so it’s important that we support her really well.
A statement debut goal for Olivia Smith 😮💨🚀 pic.twitter.com/XjamsyX0Wo
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) September 7, 2025
“We see so much potential and she’s already contributing a lot, you saw that last Saturday.”
Earlier this summer, Wales boss Rhian Wilkinson, compared Smith to women’s basketball star Caitlin Clark in an exclusive interview with SheKicks.
Wilkinson, a former coach of Smith in Canada’s youth ranks, said: “I think we’ve had phenomenal ambassadors for the game already. Women who have not been paid and who have built the game and put it where it is.
“Now it’s that generation, the Caitlin Clarks for the WNBA and then the Olivia Smiths for football. But equally, all these incredible young talents that we just saw at the Euros coming through, who will be the new face of the professionalism of it.”
Olivia Smith’s move to Arsenal no longer holds the transfer record
Olivia Smith held the transfer record for little more than a month following her £1.1m move from Liverpool to Arsenal.
That mark was beaten by Lizbeth Ovalle’s £1.1m move from Tigres to Orlando Pride.
Since then, the record was broken again by Grace Geyoro’s move to London City Lionesses for a fee of £1.43m.
However, Geyoro’s world record fee has been under debate, with some claiming the fee was closer to the £1m mark.
