Olivia Smith Shortlisted for 2026 PFA Young Player of the Year

Olivia Smith’s rise shows no sign of slowing.

The Arsenal forward has been shortlisted for the 2026 PFA Young Player of the Year award, a year on from winning the same prize during her final season at Liverpool. Back-to-back recognition, two different clubs. That is the mark of a player shaping a league, not just lighting it up for a moment.

Smith arrived in north London last summer with expectation already trailing her. She answered it instantly. On her Arsenal debut at Emirates Stadium, she unleashed a stunning long-range strike against London City Lionesses, the kind of goal that announces a new era as much as a new signing. One swing of her boot, and any doubts about the move vanished.

The season did not slow her down. When Arsenal chased the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup, Smith delivered again, scoring in February’s 3-2 victory over Corinthians. It was a frantic, high-stakes contest, and she found a way to leave her mark, helping to secure the first edition of a trophy that will carry weight for years to come.

By the end of the 2025/26 campaign, the numbers backed up the eye test. Ten goals across 38 matches in all competitions for Arsenal. Consistent, reliable output from a young player adapting to a new club and new demands. At international level, she added three appearances for Canada in this calendar year, nudging her influence onto the global stage.

The PFA shortlist underlines the quality of company she keeps. Joining Smith in contention for the Young Player of the Year award are Alyssa Thompson (Chelsea), Freya Godfrey (London City Lionesses), Laura Blindkilde Brown (Manchester City), Toko Koga (Tottenham Hotspur), and Veerle Buurman (Chelsea). It is a group stacked with talent, spread across the league’s biggest battlegrounds.

Arsenal’s presence in the nominations does not stop with Smith. Alessia Russo is also in the frame, named among the contenders for the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award, a reminder of the firepower and influence concentrated in Jonas Eidevall’s squad.

All eyes now turn to August 25, when the winners will be revealed at the ceremony. For Olivia Smith, it is a chance to turn a breakthrough into a dynasty – and to prove that last year’s crown was only the beginning.