Beth Mead will leave Arsenal at the end of the season, the club announced on Tuesday. The 2022 BBC Sports Personality of the Year suffered a serious knee injury in November 2022, rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament and forced to miss the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. After returning from 11 months out, she was part of the England squad as the Lionesses retained their European title at Euro 2025.

Mead came on as a substitute in last season's Champions League final against Barcelona. In what she described as one of her "greatest highlights in an Arsenal shirt," she set up the winner for Stina Blackstenius. Arsenal won that final 1-0 to claim their first Champions League title in 18 years. This season, she has made 27 appearances across the WSL and Champions League, with 11 of those as a substitute, scoring five goals.

Arsenal also confirmed that Victoria Pelova will leave the club at the end of the season. The midfielder, who joined from Ajax in January 2023, made 87 appearances for the Gunners, scoring six goals. Pelova's departure means Arsenal will lose two established internationals as they rebuild for next season.