Beth Mead: England Lioness signs new Arsenal contract and says: ‘This club is home for me’

England Lioness Beth Mead has signed a new contract with Arsenal.

The length of the deal has not been specified, but will see Mead extend her five-year stay in north London after arriving from Sunderland in 2017.

“This club is home for me – I’ve grown so much here as a player and a person and I know we can achieve so much more together in the years to come.

“I want to compete to win the biggest trophies in the game and I know that the ambitions at Arsenal match my own, so I can’t wait to get back onto the pitch and help to deliver the success our supporters deserve.”

Arsenal women’s head coach Jonas Eidevall added: “It’s wonderful news that we have agreed a new deal with Beth. She is a world-class footballer and has proven that on the biggest stage of them all.

“I have so much admiration for the way she has handled success and adversity on and off the pitch over the past few years, and I’m sure she will approach the next few months with the positive attitude we all know Beth for.”

The 27-year-old enjoyed a stellar 2022 after helping England to a superb Euro 2022 victory, where she was subsequently named player of the tournament and was the competition’s top goalscorer.

She also came second in the Ballon d’Or Feminin rankings behind Barcelona and Spain international Alexia Putellas, who won the award for a consecutive year.

Further accolades came Mead’s way after being named BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year for 2022 and England Player of the Year for 2021/22.

Arsenal’s head of women’s football Clare Wheatley commented: “Everyone at Arsenal is delighted that Beth has signed a new contract here with us. In her five years with our club, Beth has grown into one of the best footballers in the world and her form over the past season has reached new heights.

“We were all so proud to watch her achieve her dreams in the summer and we are looking forward to welcoming her back to the pitch to pursue more success with Arsenal.”

However, it has not all been plain-sailing for Mead – she ruptured her ACL in the Gunners’ 3-2 Women’s Super League defeat to Manchester United last month, leaving her place at next year’s World Cup in doubt.