By Honesty Victor
Arsenal have confirmed that 15 players across their men’s, women’s and academy teams will leave the club when their contracts expire on June 30, 2026.
The Premier League champions released their retained and released list following the end of the 2025/2026 campaign, with a number of academy prospects and several senior women’s players set to move on.
Among the most notable departures from the men’s setup are right-back Josh Nichols and goalkeeper Alexei Rojas-Fedorushchenko. Both players trained regularly with Mikel Arteta’s first-team squad, while Nichols made his senior debut in Arsenal’s League Cup victory over Bolton last season.
Nichols has already secured a move to Croatian club NK Kustosija.
The full list of academy and youth players leaving Arsenal includes Sam Chapman, Harrison Dudziak, Seb Ferdinand, Cam’ron Ismail, Will Lannin-Sweet, Josh Nichols, Samuel Onyekachukwu and Alexei Rojas-Fedorushchenko.
Arsenal also confirmed the departure of seven members of Renee Slegers’ women’s squad, many of whom played key roles in the club’s UEFA Women’s Champions League triumph last season.
Those leaving the women’s team are Laia Codina, Katie McCabe, Beth Mead, Victoria Pelova, Barbora Votikova, Naomi Williams and Manuela Zinsberger.
Despite the announcement, Arsenal revealed that negotiations remain ongoing with three players whose contracts are also due to expire this month.
The club said talks are continuing with Caitlin Foord, while academy duo Aleksander Marciniak and Joshua Ogunnaike are also in discussions over potential new deals.
The departures come after another memorable campaign for Arsenal. Arteta’s side ended the club’s 22-year wait for the Premier League title, although they suffered heartbreak in Europe after losing the UEFA Champions League final to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties.
No senior men’s first-team player has been included on the released list, with Arsenal expected to maintain the core of the squad that delivered domestic success.
The club will return to competitive action on August 16 when they face Manchester City in the FA Community Shield at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium. Arsenal, who have won the trophy 17 times, will enter the traditional season curtain-raiser as Premier League champions against the FA Cup winners.
