Whitby-raised soccer star Olivia Smith has been named the Women’s PFA Young Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, extending a rapid rise from Durham Region youth soccer to one of the biggest clubs in the women’s game.
The Olivia Smith PFA award was announced by England’s Professional Footballers’ Association on Aug. 25. The Arsenal forward was selected by her fellow professional players, giving the 22-year-old back-to-back wins after she captured the same honour for Liverpool following the 2024-25 season.
Smith’s latest award adds another major achievement to a career that began in Durham Region.
From Whitby youth soccer to England
Canada Soccer lists Smith as born in North York but raised in Whitby. She began playing soccer with Whitby Iroquois SC and later developed with clubs including Oshawa Kicks SC and Ajax SC before moving on to Markham FC, North Toronto SC and Ontario’s high-performance system.
That Durham connection makes the latest recognition particularly notable locally. Smith has progressed from soccer in Whitby, Oshawa and Ajax to representing Arsenal in England’s Women’s Super League.
She also became Canada’s youngest senior international when she made her national-team debut at just 15 years old in 2019.
Before moving to England, Smith spent the 2023-24 season with Sporting CP in Portugal. Arsenal says she scored 16 goals in 28 appearances and finished the campaign as both Liga BPI Player of the Season and Young Player of the Season.
First PFA award came with Liverpool
Smith moved to Liverpool in 2024 and quickly established herself in the Women’s Super League.
The PFA named her Women’s Young Player of the Year for the 2024-25 campaign after she scored seven league goals during her first season in English football.
She was also voted Liverpool’s Player of the Season.
Arsenal then signed Smith from Liverpool in the summer of 2025. The PFA later described the transfer as the most expensive in women’s football history at the time.
Smith wins again with Arsenal
The 2026 Olivia Smith PFA award followed her first campaign with Arsenal.
Smith beat a six-player shortlist that included Laura Blindkilde Brown of Manchester City, Veerle Buurman and Alyssa Thompson of Chelsea, Freya Godfrey of London City Lionesses and Tōko Koga of Tottenham Hotspur.
She also helped Arsenal capture the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup in 2026. Smith scored against Corinthians in the final as Arsenal won 3-2 to lift the trophy.
Winning the PFA honour in consecutive seasons further establishes Smith among the leading young players in women’s football.
Durham roots remain part of Smith’s rise
Smith’s accomplishments extend to the Canadian national program.
Canada Soccer named her its Young Player of the Year in both 2019 and 2024. She represented Canada at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and earned the Best Young Player award at the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup.
Canada Soccer’s current player profile credits Smith with four senior international goals.
For Durham soccer supporters, the latest Olivia Smith PFA award provides another connection between local player development and the highest levels of the international game.
From growing up in Whitby and playing youth soccer in Oshawa and Ajax to starring for Arsenal, Smith is now a two-time Women’s PFA Young Player of the Year — all before her 23rd birthday.
