Wiegman: Mead’s next move vital for World Cup hopes; Toone recalled

Sarina Wiegman said Beth Mead’s next transfer would be a “very important” factor in the England forward’s chances of competing at the 2027 Women’s World Cup, as the outgoing Arsenal forward seeks more regular starts.

The 31-year-old is understood to be close to agreeing a move to Manchester City after it was confirmed she will leave Arsenal at the end of her contract this summer following nine years at the club.

Mead, who starred in England’s 2022 European Championship triumph, played in 21 of Arsenal’s 22 league fixtures this season but started only 12 of them.

“I think [it is] very important,” Wiegman said when asked about Mead’s next steps. “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.”

“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.”

Wiegman recalled Manchester United midfielder Ella Toone, Chelsea forward Aggie Beever-Jones and London City Lionesses winger Freya Godfrey after injuries for next month’s two crucial World Cup qualifiers, with Mead also included in the 25-player squad.

England will face Spain in Mallorca on 5 June before hosting Ukraine at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium four days later in their final fixture of the qualifying group. England top the group with four wins from four, including a crucial home victory over Spain at Wembley in April, putting them in pole position to automatically qualify for next summer’s finals in Brazil. Only the group winners will avoid the playoffs.

Goalkeepers: Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride), Ellie Roebuck (Aston Villa).

Defenders: Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), Jess Carter (Gotham), Niamh Charles (Chelsea), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Taylor Hinds (Arsenal), Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United), Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit), Leah Williamson (Arsenal), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal).

Midfielders: Laura Blindkilde Brown (Manchester City), Lucia Kendall (Aston Villa), Jess Park (Manchester United), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Ella Toone (Manchester United), Keira Walsh (Chelsea).

Forwards: Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea), Freya Godfrey (London City Lionesses), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Lauren James (Chelsea), Chloe Kelly (Arsenal), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Alessia Russo (Arsenal).

Wiegman said it was too soon to know whether Toone 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.”

There is no place in the squad for 18-year-old Erica Meg Parkinson, a surprise inclusion in April’s squad. Discussing her omission, Wiegman said: “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. I said in that [April] press conference that she would really surprise me if she would play straight away in a starting position, but she showed a couple of [good] things. There is still a gap for her to earn the minutes to compete with other players in the squad.”