View: Liverpool Women make statement of intent with Olivia Smith transfer
Liverpool Women have had a few fairly difficult years recently with the Reds finishing 14 points adrift of first-placed Chelsea last season.
Although their fourth-place finish is far better than that of the 2022/23 season where they ended up in seventh, there is still plenty of room for improvement.
Six of Matt Beard’s players managed to get called up for Euro 2025 qualifiers [Liverpool Official Website, 10 July] this month with Ceri Holland even captaining Wales for the first time.
The 2023/24 season has certainly been a step in the right direction but for them to improve further, additional signings will have to be made to bolster their ranks.
One transfer has already been made with her addition even becoming a club-record fee for the Reds.
Olivia Smith joined the club for £210,000 at the start of July and makes it seem as if FSG have made a real statement of intent ahead of the new season.
And, not only have FSG broken their Women’s transfer record but they have also invested heavily into a fresh pitch [Liverpool Official Website, 5 July] for the team.
Liverpool sign Olivia Smith from Sporting CP Women
The Canada international is just 19 years old and has joined Liverpool to become part of their Women’s Super League charge next season.
She had been with the Portuguese club for just one season and managed a total of 13 goals in just 18 games.
To put that into perspective, Liverpool’s leading strikers Leanne Kiernan and Sophie Roman Haug only managed to rack up 12 goals between them across the term.
However, it’s not just domestically that Smith is prolific. Whilst playing for Canada Women Under-20s, Smith managed to score 20 goals in just 18 games.
Smith has since made her debut for the senior squad and has managed to put two goals away during her time on the pitch.
Her last season with Sporting was her first professional and there’s no doubt that she will be looking to improve on her tally during 2024/25 and make a significant impact on the squad.
In other Liverpool Women’s news, Mia Enderby has been named in England’s Under-19 Euro squad.
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