Beth Mead won’t be the only Arsenal star heading for the exit door when her contact expires this summer.
The club has also confirmed the departures of Laia Codina and Victoria Pelova, albeit with far less fanfare.
With three seasoned professionals heading for pastures new, the core of Arsenal’s squad looks set for a major refresh when the transfer window opens.
While Mead’s curtain call will likely steal most of the headlines, both Codina and Pelova played their part in restoring Arsenal as a global superpower in the women’s game.
Adiós For Laia Codina
Laia Codina joined Arsenal from Barcelona in the summer of 2023 and made her debut in a 2-2 draw against Manchester United in the WSL.
As a composed, vocal central defender with enough quality on the ball to play in midfield, the 26-year-old helped the Gunners to a League Cup win in her first season.
The Spaniard was also part of the squad that won the UEFA Women’s Champions League title in 2025, as well as the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup in 2026.
However, with Leah Williamson and Lotte Wubben-Moy the preferred defensive pairing when both fit – and Steph Catley proving a capable deputy – Codina has found consistent first team minutes difficult to come by.
In total, she made 59 appearances and scored four goals during her time at Arsenal, with the chance to hit 60 against Liverpool at the weekend.
Victoria Pelova’s Next Chapter
Victoria Pelova swapped the Eredivisie for the WSL in January 2023, signing for Arsenal from Dutch giants Ajax.
She made her debut at the Emirates in a 3-0 League Cup win over Aston Villa, going on to score six goals across 88 appearances.
Most notably, Pelova played all 120 minutes of Arsenal’s League Cup final triumph over Chelsea in 2024, and won the UEFA Women’s Champions League and FIFA Women’s Champions Cup during her time in North London.
On the international stage, she also represented the Netherlands at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2025 UEFA Women’s European Championship while part of the club.
Pelova played 90 minutes during Arsenal’s important 1-0 victory over Everton on Wednesday. She too has the chance to pull on the shirt one last time against Liverpool.
A tricky technician with a low centre of gravity, Pelova will undoubtedly have plenty of suiters in the summer – especially as a free agent.
Both Laia Codina and Victoria Pelova will leave Arsenal when their contracts expire at the end of the 2025/26 campaign.
SEE ALSO: ‘I’m Going to Miss it’: Beth Mead to Leave Arsenal After 9 Incredible Seasons
