Mary Earps, the celebrated England goalkeeper, has announced her retirement from international football at the age of 32. Earps described wearing the England jersey as the greatest honour and privilege of her life. Her retirement marks the end of an impressive international career that included 53 caps for England.
Earps was a key figure in England’s recent successes. She played every match in England’s victorious UEFA Euro 2022 campaign, helping the team secure its first major trophy in over 50 years. She also played every minute of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, where England finished as runners-up. Earps won the Golden Glove award at the tournament for being the best goalkeeper.
Her career highlights include being a two-time FIFA Best Goalkeeper award winner and England Women’s Player of the Year for the 2022-23 season. In 2023, she was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year and became the first female footballer to have a wax figure at Madame Tussauds.
She also played a crucial role at the club level, notably at Manchester United, where she set a league record with 14 clean sheets in the 2022-23 season and helped the club qualify for the UEFA Women’s Champions League for the first time. After five years at Manchester United, Earps moved to Paris Saint-Germain.
England manager Sarina Wiegman expressed disappointment at Earps’s decision to retire, as she had expected Earps to participate in Euro 2025 in Switzerland this summer. Earp’s departure opens the door for other goalkeepers to step up.
One such goalkeeper is Hannah Hampton, a rising star in English women’s football. Born on November 16, 2000, Hampton is 24 years old and currently plays as a goalkeeper for Chelsea in the Women’s Super League (WSL) and the England national team. She began her career in the youth academies of Stoke City and Birmingham City and spent part of her childhood in Spain playing for Villarreal’s youth team.
Hampton made her senior England debut in February 2022 and was part of the Euro 2022 winning squad. She has since become a strong contender for the England No. 1 goalkeeper spot, especially after Earps’ injury and retirement.
In the 2024-25 season, Hampton kept 13 clean sheets in 22 league appearances for Chelsea, helping them become the first WSL team to finish a 22-game season unbeaten. She shared the league’s Golden Glove award that season.
England manager Sarina Wiegman has described Hampton’s selection as a “huge vote of confidence” and a “bold move,” suggesting Hampton is leading the race to be England’s first-choice goalkeeper for Euro 2025.
In summary, Mary Earps retires at 32 after a decorated career marked by European and World Cup success, individual awards, and club achievements. Hannah Hampton, 24, is emerging as her natural successor, already showing strong performances for Chelsea and England and likely to take the lead role in upcoming international tournaments.