Arsenal wanted the England forward to stay, but under different terms, before she accepted Manchester City’s proposal.
Beth Mead was offered a new contract and an adapted first-team role by Arsenal before she chose to leave for Manchester City, bringing an end to her 10 years in north London, according to an interview in The Telegraph.
Talks over a new deal took place, with Arsenal willing to keep the England international on a shorter contract in a role that could have involved reduced game time.
City’s offer, however, gave Mead greater long-term security.
“It’s been an emotional few months, knowing it [the move] was coming,” Mead said. “I understand fans may get annoyed and upset but it’s football, it’s business, it’s just how it is.
“I think there are little things people under-appreciate when you’re not in football: taking my stuff out of the locker for the last time, being on the pitch for the last training session, going in the gym and knowing you’re not going to come in here as a player anymore.
“Being able to say goodbye and have a great send-off was amazing. When I step into pre-season at City, I think that’s probably when it’ll hit me that I’m not going to go back to the place that I’ve known as home for the last 10 years.”
Mead also admitted returning to the Emirates will be emotional after watching partner Vivianne Miedema experience the same feelings following her move in 2024.
“There are still things that are probably going to hit me,” she said. “The first time playing at the Emirates and turning right at the end of the tunnel instead of turning left into the Arsenal changing room, hearing North London Forever playing.
“I remember the first time Viv had to play there and seeing how emotional she was, I probably underestimated how hard that was for her and now I’m going to have to do it myself.
“It’s those first times after something… It feels like a break-up. I’m also very happy and excited about the other side of it, but it comes with a lot of emotions.”
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