Sarina Wiegman has stated that Beth Mead's next club transfer will be a critical factor in determining the England forward's prospects for the 2027 Women's World Cup. The 31-year-old, who is set to leave Arsenal after nine years, is reportedly close to joining Manchester City in search of more regular starting opportunities.
Mead's Ambition and Future
Mead, a standout performer in England's 2022 European Championship victory, featured in 21 of Arsenal's 22 league matches this season but started only 12. Wiegman emphasized the importance of Mead's next move, noting, 'She is still very ambitious and I think she still has the highest level. When you play at Arsenal, they have such a strong squad and they play so many games, so they split minutes in those games.'
The England manager added, 'She wants to get a good move and wants to compete for the World Cup and make the squad next year. Of course that’s a long way out but you have to make the right decision.'
Squad Updates for World Cup Qualifiers
Wiegman has recalled Manchester United midfielder Ella Toone, Chelsea forward Aggie Beever-Jones, and London City Lionesses winger Freya Godfrey after injuries for the upcoming crucial World Cup qualifiers. Mead is also included in the 25-player squad.
The Lionesses will face Spain in Mallorca on 5 June before hosting Ukraine at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium four days later in their final qualifying group fixture. England currently top the group with four wins from four, including a vital home victory over Spain at Wembley in April, putting them in a strong position to qualify automatically for next summer's finals in Brazil. Only group winners avoid the playoffs.
Toone's Return and Squad Depth
Regarding Toone, Wiegman said it was too early to know if she can play '90 minutes at the highest level' but added, 'It’s nice she’s back. There are a couple of players that haven’t played that many minutes. I still think they’re the best players and they can make the chance of winning as high as possible, when they’re in. But we have a squad of 25 so enough options that we can play.'
Notably, 18-year-old Erica Meg Parkinson, a surprise inclusion in April's squad, has been omitted. Wiegman explained, 'Erica came into the squad for the first time as a young player, turned 18 in our camp. We wanted to see her, she brought what we thought she would bring. There is still a gap for her to earn the minutes to compete with other players in the squad.'
