Arsenal 'legend' Mead to leave club at end of season

Arsenal described forward Beth Mead as a "legend of the club" as they announced she is to leave at the end of the season.

The 31-year-old England international has scored 86 goals in 263 outings for the Gunners since joining them from Sunderland in 2017.

She has helped Arsenal win the Women's Champions League, Women's Super League, Fifa Champions Cup and three League Cups in her time at the club.

"Beth has made a huge contribution to our football club over nine years, and will go down in history as one of our best forwards and a legend of the club," said Arsenal director of women's football Clare Wheatley.

"Beth is such a special person and will always be welcome at Arsenal. I know our supporters will join me in wishing Beth happiness and success in her future endeavours."

It is understood London City Lionesses and Manchester City are interested in signing Mead, who was named player of the tournament and winner of the Golden Boot as she helped England win Euro 2022.

She suffered a serious knee injury when she ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament in November 2022 and was forced to miss the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

The 2022 BBC Sports Personality of the Year returned after 11 months out and was part of the England squad as the Lionesses retained their European title at Euro 2025.

Mead came on as a substitute in her side's Champions League final against Barcelona last season and, in one of her "greatest highlights in an Arsenal shirt", set up the winner for Stina Blackstenius as Arsenal won the title for the first time in 18 years.

This season, she has made 27 appearances in the WSL and Champions League, with 11 of those as a substitute, and scored five goals.

Arsenal have also announced Victoria Pelova, who joined them from Ajax in January 2023, will be leaving the club at the end of the season.

The midfielder has made 87 appearances for the Gunners, scoring six goals.

Mead's departure 'understandable' with World Cup on horizon

Mead's departure from Arsenal will come as no surprise to fans but it will be met with sadness as it brings to an end the stint of one of the club's most pivotal players of the last decade.

The attacker has lit up the Emirates Stadium with her versatile style, movement and finishing.

Even at 31 years old, Mead is the kind of player who would walk into most WSL teams' starting XI.

In recent seasons her appearances have started to be confined to coming off the bench but with the next World Cup in Brazil just a year away, it is understandable that she will now look for a club that can offer her more minutes to stay in boss Sarina Wiegman's England plans.