news-engine

OLIVIA Smith has been named PFA Women’s Young Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, cementing her status as one of the outstanding young talents in world football. The Canadian international received the prestigious award at the 2026 PFA Awards at Manchester Opera House, retaining the title she first won in 2025 following her breakthrough season in English football. Winning the award in back-to-back seasons represents another landmark achievement in Olivia’s rapidly developing career and recognises the exceptional standard and consistency of her performances during the 2025/26 campaign. Olivia Smith strike sinks WSL league leaders In her first season with Arsenal, she achieved a personal best of 14 goal involvements across all competitions – 10 goals and four assists – and saved her biggest moments for the biggest occasions, finding the net against Liverpool, Manchester City, Corinthians and in the League Cup. Her numbers tell the story of a player who lives in the opposition half: no one in the Women’s Super League won more fouls there, and among players aged 22 and under she led the league for touches in the opposition box, goals from outside it, take-ons in the box, and take-ons that resulted in a goal for Arsenal. Olivia has continued to establish herself among the most exciting attacking talents in the women’s game, combining power, technical quality and an ability to influence matches at the highest level. The PFA Awards hold particular significance within English football, with the honours determined by Smith’s fellow professional players.