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

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.

[BBC]

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