The 10 most expensive signings in women’s football with Olivia Smith set to become first £1m player | OneFootball

We take a look at the most expensive signings in women’s football with Liverpool star Olivia Smith set to become the first £1m player. (Jay Patel/SPP)

Olivia Smith is poised to become the first £1m player in women’s football, so here we take a look at the 10 most expensive signings before her expected switch from Liverpool to Arsenal.

Olivia Smith set to become first £1m women’s player

Olivia Smith is set to become the most expensive signing in the history of women’s football, after Liverpool accepted a £1m offer from Arsenal for the Canadian international.

The 20-year-old – who joined Liverpool last summer – scored seven times in 20 Women’s Super League appearances during her debut season in English football.

Liverpool went on to finish seventh in the WSL. Arsenal finished second in the WSL, but also won the Women’s Champions League for the first time.

Arsenal have already signed a player from Liverpool in Taylor Hinds.

While Hinds joined Arsenal on a free upon the expiry of her Liverpool contract, Smith is set to break the world record fee for a women’s footballer.

Below, we take a look at the 10 most expensive signings in women’s football history before Smith’s move to Arsenal.

The 10 most expensive signings in women’s football history

10. Kika Nazareth from Benfica to Barcelona for £339,000

Barcelona made a number of big signings in the summer of 2024.

Ewa Pajor’s move from VfL Wolfsburg to Barcelona last year just misses this list in 11th, behind Kika Nazareth’s arrival from Benfica.

The Portuguese international scored six goals in 29 appearances during her debut season.

She missed the end of the season because of ankle surgery but recovered in time to make Portugal’s Euro 2025 squad.

Kika Nazareth is one of the most expensive signings in women’s football history. Photo: Sport Lisboa e Benfica / via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)

9. Lena Oberdorf from VfL Wolfsburg to Bayern Munich for £384,000

Not only did Wolfsburg lose Ewa Pajor in 2024, but they also lost Lena Oberdorf to German rivals Bayern Munich.

The German international had plenty of suitors last year before deciding to join the Bavarian side.

Unfortunately, she is yet to make her debut for the club after suffering an ACL injury last summer. This resulted in her missing out on last summer’s Olympic Games and Euro 2025.

8. Priscila from Internacional to Club America for £374,000

This is the only transfer on the list where the player didn’t join a club in Europe or the United States.

The 20-year-old Brazilian international joined the Mexican club in September 2024.

She is the most expensive signing by a Mexican club and it also marked the most expensive fee received to date by a Brazilian club.

To date, she has scored 12 goals in 19 appearances, and will be attracting the interest of clubs across Europe.

7. Mayra Ramirez from Levante to Chelsea for £384,000

Chelsea signed Mayra Ramirez in January 2024 after Sam Kerr suffered an ACL injury during the opening days of the year.

On the final day of the 2023-24 season, Ramirez put in a huge display to help Chelsea win the WSL title by beating Manchester United.

In 2024-25, the Colombian international scored 10 goals in 33 appearances.

Colombian Mayra Ramirez joined Chelsea in January 2024 after Sam Kerr’s ACL injury. (Daniela Porcelli / SPP)

6. Keira Walsh from Manchester City to Barcelona for £400,000

England international Keira Walsh is the only player who makes this list twice.

Her first inclusion is her move from Manchester City to Barcelona in 2022, which at the time was the most expensive transfer in women’s football history.

At Barcelona, she scored six goals in 100 appearances and won 10 trophies which included two Champions Leagues and three Spanish titles.

5. Keira Walsh from Barcelona to Chelsea for £460,000

After two-and-a-half seasons at Barcelona, the Spanish club made a £60,000 profit in January 2025 when Walsh joined Chelsea.

Walsh made 15 appearances for Chelsea during the second-half of last season, helping the club win a domestic treble.

She will now hope for success at Euro 2025 with England. According to the UK’s top betting websites, England are tied second-favourites alongside France at 5/1 to win the tournament. Spain are favourites at 17/20.

Keira Walsh appears in the list of the 10 most expensive signings in women’s football twice. (Photo by Morgan Harlow/Getty Images)

4. Barbra Banda from Shanghai Shengli to Orlando Pride for £582,000

Zambian international Barbra Banda has lit up the international stage with 57 goals in 63 appearances for her country.

Her performances for club and country led to a move to Orlando Pride in March 2024.

In Orlando, she has won the NWSL championship, scored 19 goals in 27 appearances and won the league’s MVP award.

3. Tarciane from Houston Dash to Lyon for £650,000

Brazilian international Tarciane spent just one season at Houston Dash before she joined Lyon in February 2025 for £650,000.

The 22-year-old centre-back is one of the most talented young defenders in football and won a silver medal with Brazil at last year’s Olympics.

Her move from Internactional to Houston Dash in 2024 falls just outside of the top 10.

2. Racheal Kundananji from Madrid CFF to Bay FC for £685,000

Racheal Kundananji became the most expensive signing in women’s football history when she joined San Francisco-based Bay FC from Liga F club Madrid CFF in February 2024.

The Zambian international scored 33 goals in 43 appearances during her time at Madrid CFF.

At Bay FC she has currently netted five goals in 21 outings.

1. Naomi Girma from San Diego Wave to Chelsea for £883,000

Naomi Girma is set to lose her place as the most expensive signing in women’s football history.  (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)

Naomi Girma became the most expensive signing in women’s football when she joined Chelsea in January 2025.

The 24-year-old cemented her place as one of the best defenders in world football with her performances for San Diego Wave and the US national team.

Girma made eight appearances for Chelsea during the second-half of the 2024-25 season.

However, her place at the top of this list looks like it will come to a swift end, as women’s football prepares to see the first ever £1m transfer.