England star Smith to leave Arsenal for US

FIFA Women's World Player of the Year nominee Kelly Smith will be one of five England internationals in the new American Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) league after following Arsenal LFC team-mate Alex Scott to Boston Breakers.

Arsenal honours
Smith, the second pick in the WPS international draft. has signed a four-year contract with Boston and will move along with defender Scott early next month. The 30-year-old joined Arsenal in 2005 after playing in the now defunct American WUSA league and helped the Gunners dominate English female football – winning the 2006/07 UEFA Women's Cup, though she was suspended for the final against Umeå IK, who knocked Smith's side out in the last eight this season.

England quintet
Among Smith's WPS rivals will be current Arsenal team-mate Karen Carney, who is going to Chicago Red Stars, while Chelsea LFC duo Eniola Aluko and Anita Asante have been drafted by St Louis Athletica and Sky Blue FC of New York/New Jersey respectively, though are yet to officially sign. All five players are believed to have contracts releasing them for England's build-up to UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ and the tournament itself in the summer. Arsenal look on course for a place in the new UEFA Women's Champions League next season as they have won all 14 of their English top-flight fixtures, although Everton LFC also have a 100 per cent record after 12 matches.