'Thank you for everything': Beth Mead to leave Arsenal after nine seasons

The 31 year old revealed her choice through a touching video shared on the team's official site.

Over nine years, Mead netted 86 goals across 263 matches, contributing to victories in the Women's Super League, three League Cups, the FA Cup, and the Women's Champions League for the north London outfit.

Having moved to Arsenal from Sunderland in 2017, Mead described the club as more than just a place to play football, it was where she matured, discovered her true self, and experienced a profound sense of love and community that she will treasure eternally.

She reflected on the incredible shared experiences, including securing the league title in 2019, claiming the League Cups, and the particularly cherished Champions League success from the previous season.

Those evenings, the joyous festivities, and the support from fans are recollections she will cherish throughout her life. Departing from this team is far from simple, it shatters her heart unexpectedly, yet she exits filled with immense affection, immense honour, and deep appreciation.

Arsenal shall remain an integral piece of her identity indefinitely. Thank you for all of it.

A year following her Arsenal arrival, Mead earned her first England cap and later achieved two European Championship wins with the Lionesses, the 2022 edition marking her as the tournament's standout player alongside the top scorer award for most goals.

However, an anterior cruciate ligament tear sidelined her for the 2023 Women's World Cup, though she recovered in time to claim another League Cup in 2024 and the Champions League last term, where Arsenal triumphed over Barcelona in the decisive match.

Clare Wheatley, Arsenal's director of women's football, commented: Beth delivered an enormous impact to our team during her nine year stint, and she will be remembered as one of our finest strikers and a true icon of the club.