Olivia Smith Nominated for PFA Young Player of the Year

Olivia Smith’s rise shows no sign of slowing.

Twelve months after swapping Liverpool red for Arsenal colours, the Canadian forward has been shortlisted for the 2026 PFA Young Player of the Year award – and she is chasing history. Smith is aiming to lift the trophy for a second successive season, having claimed it in 2025 on the back of her final campaign at Liverpool.

This latest nomination is no courtesy nod. It is the result of votes from her peers, with the six-player shortlist drawn from those who collected the most backing across the dressing rooms of the women’s game. Players know who hurts them most. They have put Smith right back in the conversation.

Her Arsenal story started with a statement. On debut at Emirates Stadium against London City Lionesses, Smith stepped into the spotlight and lashed in a stunning long-range strike, the kind of goal that instantly announces a new signing to a demanding crowd. It was the sort of moment that changes how a fanbase says your name.

The big contributions did not stop there. In February, with the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup on the line, Smith again delivered. She scored in a dramatic 3-2 win over Corinthians, helping Arsenal secure the first edition of a competition that already feels like a marker in the women’s club calendar.

By the end of the 2025/26 season, the numbers backed up the eye test. Smith finished with 10 goals across 38 matches in all competitions, a steady return in a new environment and under the weight of expectation that comes with an Arsenal shirt. Alongside her club form, she also added three more caps for Canada in this calendar year, continuing her progression on the international stage.

PFA Young Player of the Year Race

The PFA Young Player of the Year race, though, is no procession. Smith stands in a talented group of six, each nominated on the strength of their own campaigns. Alyssa Thompson and Veerle Buurman have driven Chelsea’s charge. Freya Godfrey has been a standout for London City Lionesses, the same side Smith first struck against in Arsenal colours. Laura Blindkilde Brown has impressed in Manchester City’s midfield, while Toko Koga has emerged as a bright spark for Tottenham Hotspur.

It is a snapshot of the next generation in English women’s football: different clubs, different roles, all converging on the same stage.

Arsenal interest in the awards does not end with Smith. Alessia Russo has also been recognised, earning a place among the nominees for the PFA Players’ Player of the Year. While Smith carries the flag for the future, Russo’s nomination underlines the established star power in Jonas Eidevall’s squad.

All eyes now turn to August 25, when the winners will be revealed at the PFA ceremony. If Olivia Smith’s name is called again, she will not just be a back-to-back winner. She will be the young player everyone else is chasing.