Mead called tearing her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in 2022 “one of the toughest challenges of my career” adding that “it was the team that got me through very dark day of rehab”.
She said: “I lost my Mum in January 2023 and I didn’t know how I’d get through it but you held me up when I felt like I couldn’t stand. You surrounded me with love and I’ll never forget that.
“Leaving this club isn’t easy. It breaks my heart in ways I didn’t expect but I leave it with so much love, so much pride, and so much gratitude. Arsenal will always be a part of me.”
Arsenal’s director of women’s football Clare Wheatley labelled Mead a “legend of the club” who will “go down in history as one of our best forwards”.
Mead ruptured her ACL in November 2022 and was forced to miss the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
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.
She 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 Dutch midfielder has made 87 appearances for the Gunners, scoring six goals.