Canadian striker Olivia Smith is on the verge of turning her childhood ambitions into reality as she prepares for her second season with Arsenal in the English Women’s Super League (WSL). The 22-year-old forward, who has long dreamed of representing Canada at the World Cup and Olympics, has rapidly established herself as one of the sport’s promising talents.

Smith’s breakthrough came last summer when Arsenal acquired her from Liverpool for a record £1 million ($1.85 million), marking one of the most significant transfers in women’s soccer. Since joining the Gunners, the Whitby, Ontario native has netted 10 goals in 38 appearances. Her impact was recently recognized by her peers when she was named the Professional Footballers’ Association Young Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, an accolade previously achieved only by Manchester City’s Lauren Hemp.

“It’s a real privilege to receive this from players you compete against week in and week out,” Smith said, reflecting on the honor. Her father Sean attended the awards ceremony, notably wearing a tailored suit featuring images of their family, adding a personal touch to the celebration.

Smith’s confidence has grown as she prepared for Arsenal’s upcoming campaign, starting strong with a goal in a 5-1 preseason victory over Charlton Athletic. Having spent a full season with the same club for the first time, she emphasized the importance of stability and the opportunity to learn alongside world-class teammates.

“You don’t have on your mind ‘What’s next?’ Now it’s ‘I’m here to grow,’” Smith said. “Arsenal has some great people, and I’m fortunate to call it my home.”

Her progress has also been noted by Casey Stoney, head coach of Canada’s women’s national team. Stoney highlighted Smith’s exceptional ability to strike the ball and her growing maturity within a competitive environment. While acknowledging there are still aspects of her game to develop, the coach said Smith’s skill set makes her crucial for Canada’s upcoming qualification campaigns.

Smith has appeared 23 times for Canada, tallying four goals and four assists. With the national team ranked ninth globally, her creativity, technical skill, and scoring ability will be vital as Canada aims to secure places at next year’s World Cup and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Ahead of those competitions, Smith will join the national squad for a pair of friendly matches against Denmark in Montreal on October 9 and Toronto on October 12, followed by the CONCACAF W Championship in November, where qualification will be decided. Playing in front of family and home crowds is especially meaningful to Smith, providing motivation and support.

“That’s the most important thing to me,” she said. “Just knowing that I have their support and love helps me do what I do on the pitch.”