Beth Mead departs Arsenal after nine-year tenure as club confirms further squad exits
Arsenal confirm the departure of Beth Mead, Laia Codina and Victoria Pelova at the conclusion of the season, ending a transformative era for the club's women's football department.
Arsenal have confirmed that England forward Beth Mead will leave the club at the end of the current season, concluding a nine-year tenure that defined the Gunners' modern era of success. The 31-year-old striker, who joined from Sunderland in 2017, made 265 appearances and scored 86 goals during her time at the club.
Clare Wheatley, Arsenal's director of women's football, described Mead as a legend of the club in a statement released to the media. Wheatley highlighted Mead's transformative role in the department's achievements, noting her contributions to winning the Women's Super League, three League Cups, and the Women's Champions League. The director also pointed to Mead's international success, including two European Championships with England.
The club's announcement coincides with the confirmation that Laia Codina and Victoria Pelova will also depart at the end of the season. These departures mark a significant shift in the squad composition as the club looks toward the future following the expiry of Mead's contract.
Mead is strongly linked with a move to Manchester City, the club of her partner and former team-mate Vivianne Miedema. While reports suggest a potential transfer, no official agreement or confirmed bid has been announced by either party. Miedema recently revealed she missed the final weeks of Manchester City's title-winning campaign due to her mother undergoing chemotherapy for cancer.
Her final home match for Arsenal is scheduled to be against Everton on Wednesday. Mead's career at the club included providing the assist for Stina Blackstenius' winning goal against Barcelona in last season's Champions League final in Lisbon, as well as winning the Golden Boot and Player of the Tournament awards at Euro 2022.
Although Mead missed the 2023 World Cup following an anterior cruciate ligament injury, she returned to feature in Arsenal's Champions League victory and England's triumph at Euro 2025 last season. Wheatley stated that Mead will always be welcome at Arsenal and that supporters are encouraged to wish her well in her future endeavours.
