England goalkeeper Mary Earps retires from international football before Euro 2025

Mary Earps has announced her retirement from international football with immediate effect only 36 days before the start of the 2025 European Championship in Switzerland.

The shock announcement comes a day after the Lionesses travelled to St George’s Park before the Nations League fixtures against Portugal and Spain, on Friday and Tuesday respectively.

“I have taken the difficult decision to retire internationally,” Earps said in a statement released by the Football Association on Tuesday. “It has been the greatest honour and privilege of my life, to wear this badge, represent my country and play alongside such an incredible group of players.

“I’ve spent a long time making this decision and it’s not one I’ve made lightly. For me, ultimately this is the right time for me to step aside and give the younger generation an opportunity to thrive. Winning the Euros in 2022 was the best day of my life, and I’m rooting for the girls to do it again this summer.”

Earps added on Instagram: “My journey has never been the simplest, and so in true Mary fashion, this isn’t a simple goodbye – right before a major tournament. Nonetheless, I know this is the right decision.

“There are so many dimensions to this decision, the details of which aren’t important right now, but what it boils down to is: it’s now the right moment for me to step aside. This is a new era and a new England team, and I’m looking forward to watching them this summer.

“In the end all you have is all you are – your character. And I know that whilst this won’t make sense to some who are reading this, you can trust that I would not be doing this unless I thought it was absolutely the right thing to do, as much as it hurts.”

View image in fullscreen England’s Mary Earps saves a penalty from Spain’s Jennifer Hermoso during the World Cup final in 2023. Photograph: Carl Recine/Reuters

The England manager, Sarina Wiegman, said she had hoped the Euro 2022 winner, who has been in a battle with Chelsea’s Hannah Hampton for the No 1 shirt, would be available this summer. Wiegman said in April that Hampton was a “little bit ahead” of Earps in the race for the starting place this summer.

“I had hoped that Mary would play an important role within the squad this summer, so of course I am disappointed,” said Wiegman. “Mary has been clear on her reasons why she has made the decision and it is something we need to accept.

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“Mary has made a huge contribution to not only the team, but the whole of English football. We will cherish those memories and of course give Mary the tributes she deserves after the summer but for now the focus needs to be on the upcoming Uefa Women’s Nations League fixtures and the Euros.”

Earps has 53 caps for England and was named The Best Fifa women’s goalkeeper two years running, in 2022 and 2023, after her heroics at the Euros and Golden Glove-winning performances at the 2023 World Cup. After the latter she was also named BBC Sports Personality of the Year and BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year.

The 32-year-old, who joined Paris Saint-Germain from Manchester United last summer, made her first England appearance in 2017.

Hampton, Manchester City’s Khiara Keating and Orlando Pride’s Anna Moorhouse will be part of the England squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures.

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