Smith was more than just a top scorer; she was the face of a team fighting to break into the Women’s Super League elite.

The record fee isn’t just a headline, it’s a chance to retool the squad, invest with purpose and avoid the risk of standing still in a league that moves fast.

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Smith joined Liverpool for only £200,000 a year ago.

Many supporters hoped she would be the cornerstone of a title push, not the first big name out the door.

But Liverpool’s recruitment team believes her departure can spark a more balanced rebuild.

In women’s football, £1m isn’t small change, it’s transformative money that could fund multiple signings.

This isn’t the first time the club has made an unpopular call.

Selling Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona once looked like a setback, but the reinvestment produced Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker and a Champions League title.

The next few signings and results will show whether this gamble pays off or leaves the team with a gap they struggle to fill.

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