The European champions Arsenal crushed the women's transfer record by signing the Canadian attacker Olivia Smith from Liverpool on Thursday, according to a fee of a million pounds, according to media reports, making the 20-year-old the first female player to break the seven-digit barrier.
Arsenal's Blockbuster Move overshadows the previous record of the American defender Naomi Girma's 900,000 pounds transfer from San Diego Wave to Chelsea in January, although the 25-year-old had already broken the mark of one million dollars.
The first player in men's football who ordered a price tag of one million pounds was former England attacker Trevor Francis when he moved from Birmingham City to Nottingham Forest in 1979.
“It is my dream to fight to get the biggest titles here in England and in Europe, and I am excited to get started and to contribute here with Arsenal,” Smith said in a statement.
The versatile Smith, who can operate as a striker or play on the wing, enjoyed a fantastic debut season in Liverpool despite the club's struggles.
Smith finished as the most important scorer of Liverpool in all competitions with nine goals to claim their player of the seasonal prize, even when Liverpool went to seventh place in the ladies Super League dropped after a fourth -placed finish of the previous campaign.
Arsenal builds on their Champions League triumph with ambitious recruitment, after they have already strengthened their team by signing Chloe Kelly from Manchester City as a free agent.
She also broke left back Taylor Hinds from Liverpool after her contract had passed.
But securing Smith represents a declaration of intent on Renee Slees, who finished second for Chelsea in the competition.