Beth Mead to leave Arsenal after nine years: ‘A legend of the club’

Beth Mead will leave Arsenal at the end of the season (Getty Images)

Beth Mead will leave Arsenal at the end of the season following nine years at the club. The England forward, 31, has made 265 appearances for the Gunners, scoring 86 goals since arriving from Sunderland in 2017.

Mead departs having played a transformative role in the modern success of the club. She won the Women’s Super League, three League Cups and the Women’s Champions League, providing the assist for Stina Blackstenius’ winning goal against Barcelona in last season’s final in Lisbon.

During her time at Arsenal, Mead also won two European Championships with England, including their historic triumph at Euro 2022 where she won the Golden Boot and was named player of the tournament.

Mead missed the 2023 World Cup after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury but returned to form in time to play a crucial role in Arsenal’s Champions League victory and England’s Euro 2025 win last season.

“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,” Arsenal’s director of women’s football Clare Wheatley said.

“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.”

Mead, who leaves at the end of her contract at the Gunners, has been strongly linked with a move to Manchester City, the club of her partner and former Arsenal team-mate Vivianne Miedema.