Beth Mead Leaves Arsenal After 7 Years as 31-Year-Old Seeks More Minutes
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 11
Beth Mead Leaves Arsenal After 7 Years as 31-Year-Old Seeks More Minutes
10 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 11
Arsenal said Beth Mead will leave at the end of the season, ending a seven-year spell in which the England forward scored 86 goals in 263 games.
31-year-old Mead is seeking increased playing time before the 2027 World Cup, having made 27 WSL and Champions League appearances this season, 11 of them as a substitute.
Mead called the exit heartbreaking, saying Arsenal supported her through homesickness, an 11-month ACL recovery and the death of her mother in 2023.
Her Arsenal career included a Women's Champions League title, a WSL crown and three League Cups, while London City Lionesses and Manchester City are understood to be interested.
Arsenal also said Victoria Pelova will depart at season's end after 87 appearances, as the club reshapes its squad for next season.
Is Beth Mead's exit a warning sign for the future of women's professional football?
Will a high-stakes transfer be enough to secure Beth Mead's spot in England's 2027 World Cup squad?
Why is Arsenal letting a club legend walk away just one year before the World Cup?