Beth Mead will leave Arsenal when her contract expires at the end of the season, bringing to an end a nine-year spell in north London.
Mead joined the Gunners from Sunderland in 2017 and finishes her time at the club having made 265 appearances and scored 86 goals. During her Arsenal career she collected a string of honours, including a Women’s Super League title, three League Cups, the Champions League and a Champions Cup.
On the international stage Mead made her England debut while an Arsenal player and was central to the Lionesses success at the 2022 European Championship, where she was named player of the tournament. She was also part of the England squad that retained the Euros in 2025.
Arsenal director of women’s football Clare Wheatley paid tribute to Mead’s contribution, describing her as a club legend and a special presence who will always be welcome at Arsenal. The club said supporters will join them in wishing Mead well for the next stage of her career.
Arsenal also confirmed that defender Laia Codina and midfielder Victoria Pelova will leave the club this summer when their contracts expire.
Analysis from Sky Sports highlights some of Mead’s defining moments in an Arsenal shirt. Her pinpoint assist for Stina Blackstenius that decided last season’s Champions League final was singled out as a signature contribution, a moment that captured her creative quality as well as her knack for producing big plays on the biggest stage. That pass, alongside a tally of 86 goals, underlines the impact she has had.
Now 31, Mead has also been a prominent figure off the pitch. She continues to work as an ambassador for Ovarian Cancer Action in memory of her late mother, and is praised for her humility, professionalism and warmth in the dressing room and around the training ground.
Her departure, together with those of Codina and Pelova, marks a notable shift for Arsenal as the club and head coach Renee Slegers look to refresh the squad and mount a sustained challenge for the WSL title, which Arsenal have not won since the 2018/19 season.
The club says work is under way to reshape the team for the future, while supporters and colleagues prepare to say goodbye to one of Arsenal Women’s most influential players of the last decade.