‘I was scared to tell my old teammates’: Victoria Pelova on making leap from Arsenal to Spurs

There is not the same intensity to club rivalries between women’s teams as there is between their men’s counterparts, but as the game grows that is changing. Increasingly, there is animosity from fans if a player leaves for a rival side. Victoria Pelova’s move from Arsenal to Tottenham firmly bucks the trend, though.

Despite arguably having her best years ahead of her, the 27-year-old departed with a lot of well-wishes and love. Everyone tells me that it reflects on the person I am. So, I’m actually really glad about that.” Pelova has been an Arsenal fan favourite despite limited minutes in her three years at the club, during which she was hampered by an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained on international duty in June 2024.

She comes across as fun and is loved by her teammates, with a wicked and dry sense of humour. Pelova was not worried what people would make of her move to Spurs, but the Netherlands midfielder did think about it. Ultimately, it was “an easy decision” to join Martin Ho’s squad.

I talked a lot with my mum about it and she immediately said yes. That was actually the most important thing for me, what my mum thought.” At the start of June, Pelova shared online that her mum had died. A carousel of moving photos of the pair through the years was captioned: “Your biggest fear was leaving me behind.

My biggest fear was losing you. Rest now, Mum.” Pelova is not ready to talk about the loss, but it sits in the background of the interview. Not having to move home as a result of her leaving Arsenal was important.

Reflecting on her spell at Arsenal, with her ACL injury coming at a time when it was believed she would start to get more playing time, she says: “There was a private situation going on, my mum was ill, and I didn’t get minutes. So, it was a really tough time and people didn’t know what I was going through.” The goal now? But when you’re not playing as regularly as you want to it’s inevitable that you’re not going to be totally happy, and when I’m the happiest person, I will be the best footballer I can be.” The fresh start at Tottenham has been rejuvenating.