Preparations are heating up ahead of this summer’s UEFA Women’s European Championship in Switzerland, with England among the favourites to retain their crown.
The Lionesses are entering the tournament with a fresh look and several positional battles still unresolved – none more so than in goal, where Chelsea’s Hannah Hampton has recently emerged as Sarina Wiegman’s new number one.
While England’s squad remains stacked with quality, one name will be conspicuously absent when they line up in Switzerland – and it’s a name very familiar to Manchester United fans.
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Paris Saint-Germain’s Mary Earps, who left United last summer after a stellar four-year stint, has stunned English football by announcing her immediate retirement from international duty – just five weeks before the Euros begin.
The 32-year-old stopper confirmed the shock news via social media, thanking fans and teammates while describing it as “the greatest honour” to represent her country.
“This is the right time for me to step aside and give the younger generation an opportunity to thrive,” she said.
Mary Earps had fallen down the pecking order for England, losing her starting place to Hampton despite having helped the Lionesses win the Euros in 2022 and reaching the World Cup final last year in Australia.
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The former Manchester United goalkeeper, who won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award in 2023 and was twice named FIFA’s Best Goalkeeper, explained her decision was multi-faceted.
“There are so many dimensions to this decision, the details of which aren’t important right now,” she said.
England boss Wiegman admitted she had hoped Earps would feature prominently in the squad this summer, adding, “Of course I am disappointed.”
Her retirement also marks the end of an era for Manchester United fans who idolised her during her time at the club.
After joining PSG, many still considered her one of their own, and her commitment to speaking out for better representation in the women’s game – such as her public criticism of Nike for not selling England goalkeeper kits – further cemented her legacy.
Earps leaves behind a lasting impact on the national team and the wider game – and the new chapter for England begins without one of its most passionate leaders.
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