Codina and Pelova will both leave with Champions League and Champions Cup medals, but neither has been part of the club’s long-term plans.
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Arsenal have confirmed that Laia Codina and Victoria Pelova will leave the club when their contracts expire this summer.
Codina signed in summer 2023, shortly after winning the Women’s World Cup with Spain. The defender has made 58 appearances and scored four goals across three seasons, though she was largely used as a substitute or rotation player and was recently deployed as a defensive midfielder to help close out games.
She was never able to secure a regular place in the starting line-up, but leaves having been part of the most successful era in the club’s history, with Arsenal winning the UEFA Women’s Champions League and FIFA Women’s Champions Cup during her time in north London.
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Pelova joined in January 2023 and has made 87 appearances, scoring six goals for the club.
The Dutch playmaker had a successful spell at Arsenal, becoming a regular and performing consistently well until she ruptured her ACL in June 2024.
She returned in March 2025, 308 days later.
Unfortunately, Pelova has not been able to return to her previous level since the injury. She has mainly been used from the bench since coming back, with only the occasional start.
It is a real shame that the injury curtailed her progress, given how impressive she had been in her first year and a half under Jonas Eidevall.
Like Codina, Pelova leaves as part of the most successful era in Arsenal’s history, with the UEFA Women’s Champions League and FIFA Women’s Champions Cup trophies secured during her time at the club.
Arsenal have now announced four departures, with Manuela Zinsberger, Naomi Williams, Codina and Pelova all confirmed to be leaving.
More exits are expected, as well as multiple signings and the return of players from loan spells, however Katie McCabe, who looked set to leave, could well be offered a new contract as the club make a u-turn.
Arsenal have already agreed deals to sign Ona Batlle when her contract expires with Barcelona, and Georgia Stanway when hers expires with Bayern Munich.
