Why Arsenal’s most expensive-signing ever is not good for football
Arsenal have secured the most expensive signing in women’s football history after completing a deal for Olivia Smith.
The 20-year-old forward has signed a four-year deal with the Gunners after making the £1million move from Liverpool.
The Canada international, who made her national team debut at the age of 15, registered seven goals in 20 Women’s Super League appearances last season.
Smith’s move to Arsenal has smashed the world record transfer fee in the women’s game, surpassing the £900,000 fee Chelsea paid to sign Naomi Germa from San Diego Wave in January.
Finance expert Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider an increase in transfer fees could create a situation where it’s difficult for women’s teams to make a profit.
There is currently a lot of focus around off-field matters involving women’s football after Chelsea and Aston Villa have completed the sales of their women’s teams to their ownership groups to improve their profit and sustainability (PSR) positions.
Arsenal deal paves way for big-money moves
Borson insisted transfer fees are likely to continue increasing in the women’s game.
He told Football Insider: “It can go both ways.
“If you’ve got a situation where you’ve got more money coming into the women’s game, clearly what’s going to happen is there’s going to be a trickle down of that money that’s going into the game into transfer fees and also player wages.
“That can be good and it can be bad because what it can also do is create a situation that they’ve got largely in the men’s game where teams find it impossible to make money and profits.
“All that’s happening is every additional pound that comes into the game from the top, be that external investment, TV revenue or commercial revenue just drips down and goes straight out to the players.
“I think it’s an inevitability that as more money comes in at the top, transfer fees go up. But I don’t think that it’s necessarily a good thing.
“We are still in the very early days, £1million is not a lot of money. A £1million sort of transfer fee that you get lower down in the league, it’s not particularly backed by anything underlying in terms of profitability of the women’s game.
“I think it’s symbolic of a level of inflation in transfer fees, but I just don’t think it’s clear whether it’s good or bad.”
Arsenal race Liverpool to sign Rodrygo
In terms of the Gunners’ men’s team, recruitment expert Mick Brown told Football Insider Arsenal remain interested in signing Rodrygo this summer.
There is a growing feeling the Brazil international could be allowed to leave Real Madrid as Xabi Alonso looks to head in a new direction.
However, Arsenal are not alone in their pursuit of the winger as Liverpool also want to sign Rodrygo and have been keeping tabs on his situation.
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