Arsenal team-mate Alessia Russo, Manchester City pair Mary Fowler and Yui Hasegawa, Chelsea’s Erin Cuthbert and Manchester United’s Phallon Tullis-Joyce were also on the shortlist.<\/p>\n
Spain international Caldentey was named the WSL player of the year in May,<\/a> an award that was voted for by supporters. <\/p>\n Arsenal finished second in the WSL, behind champions Chelsea, but beat Barcelona 1-0 in the Champions League final with Caldentey playing the whole match.<\/p>\n Canada forward Smith said it “means the world to her” to become the first foreign player to win the award.<\/p>\n She told BBC Sport: “This genuinely means the world to me, knowing that no other foreigner has won this award. <\/p>\n “Whenever I go home it’s so cool to see the girls that are inspired by me, and being a role model they look up to is massive for me and a huge privilege. I want this to help other girls and boys.”<\/p>\n Smith, 21, became the most expensive signing in women’s football history when she completed a \u00a31m move to the Gunners<\/a> from Liverpool in July.<\/p>\n Smith made her international debut at 15 and joined Liverpool from Portuguese side Sporting a year ago for a club-record fee of just over \u00a3200,000.<\/p>\n She scored nine goals in 20 matches in the WSL before agreeing a move to Arsenal<\/a> in July.<\/p>\n