Earps announces shock England retirement after losing place

England goalkeeper Mary Earps has announced her daze status from world shot - conscionable 5 weeks earlier they statesman their European Championship defence successful Switzerland.

The 32-year-old played a important domiciled successful nan Lionesses winning Euro 2022 but had recently mislaid her starting place to Chelsea keeper Hannah Hampton.

Earps made 53 elder appearances complete 8 years for England, besides winning the 2023 Women's Finalissima with her country before helping them reaching nan last of nan 2023 Women's World Cup.

England head Sarina Wiegman said she was "disappointed" by Earps' decision, having hoped she would play an "important role" this summer.

Speaking of her "difficult decision", Earps said it was "the correct clip for maine to measurement speech and springiness nan younger procreation an opportunity to thrive".

In April, Wiegman confirmed Hampton was "a small spot ahead" of Earps successful nan conflict to beryllium England's number one.

Earps was selected for nan upcoming Women's Nations League matches against Portugal and Spain this week, nan last world campy earlier Wiegman finalises her Euro 2025 squad.

BBC Sport has been told Earps met pinch Wiegman earlier nan campy and past announced her determination to nan squad connected Monday astatine St George's Park.

Players were said to beryllium disappointed that she would not beryllium astatine nan Euros to support nan group.

Earps did not train connected Monday and has near nan camp.

"I had hoped that Mary [Earps] would play an important domiciled wrong nan squad this summer, truthful of people I americium disappointed," Wiegman said.

England defender Jess Carter said she was "surprised and really sad" erstwhile Earps told nan squad astir her decision.

"It was a astonishment for immoderate and possibly not for others," she added. "It's a immense loss. She's an unthinkable personification and goalkeeper.

"I tin ideate it was tougher for her than anyone other truthful we conscionable tried to beryllium location to support her and beryllium together arsenic a team.

"The measurement that she's helped to raise women's shot successful this state is unbelievable and I wish her each nan champion successful what she does next."

Earps - who near Manchester United to subordinate French broadside Paris St-Germain past summertime - wrote connected societal media: "It has been nan top honour and privilege of my life, to deterioration this badge and correspond my country.

"I wish I could do it forever, but sadly each bully things must travel to an end."

Earps was voted BBC Sports Personality of nan Year successful 2023, having won nan Golden Glove for nan champion goalkeeper astatine nan 2023 World Cup - held successful Australia and New Zealand.

She besides won nan Best Fifa Goalkeeper grant successful 2022 and 2023.

"My travel has ne'er been nan simplest, truthful successful existent Mary fashion, this isn't a elemental goodbye - correct earlier a awesome tournament," she posted connected Instagram.

"Nonetheless, I cognize this is nan correct decision. There are truthful galore dimensions to this decision, nan specifications of which aren't important correct now.

"This is simply a caller era and a caller England team, and I'm looking guardant to watching them this summer.

"I cognize that while this won't make consciousness to immoderate who are reference this, you tin spot that I would not beryllium doing this unless I thought it was perfectly nan correct point to do, arsenic overmuch arsenic it hurts."

On respective occasions, Earps has called for alteration successful women's football.

She challenged Nike successful 2023 aft nan kit supplier grounded to nutrient immoderate replica England goalkeeper shirts earlier that year's World Cup, an incident she described arsenic "hugely hurtful".

In confirming nan extremity of her England career, she said: "I person fixed everything, my bosom and soul. I near it each retired location connected nan transportation and did my champion to thief systemic alteration of it. I person nary regrets."

Given Euro 2025 kicks disconnected successful 5 weeks' time, this is news that has shocked nan women's shot world.

It is simply a determination that cipher saw coming and Wiegman's quotes propose it moreover came arsenic a astonishment to her.

The England head had been preparing to person Earps successful nan squad, but she has been successful title for nan number 1 spot pinch Chelsea's Hampton this twelvemonth and it looked for illustration she had mislaid nan battle.

That is surely nan main logic for Earps' abrupt decision, pinch Hampton getting nan motion successful extremity successful nan past 3 England matches, including a important 1-0 triumph complete Spain astatine Wembley successful February.

She has been utilized to being nan main female nether Wiegman - she was vice-captain astatine nan Women's World Cup successful 2023 - and started each lucifer astatine England's past 2 awesome tournaments.

But this is simply a caller era for nan Lionesses now and Earps must person known her domiciled was changing.

She will beryllium missed, having contributed greatly pinch individual performances complete nan past 3 years successful particular, but besides for her contributions successful increasing nan floor plan of nan women's crippled successful England.

From challenging Nike to produce shirts pinch her sanction connected nan back, to highlighting intelligence wellness astatine nan Fifa Best Awards successful her triumph speech, Earps has gathered a immense pursuing from supporters and is 1 of nan astir high-profile female footballers successful nan country.

Her effect cannot beryllium understated.

Earps has enjoyed a trophy-laden profession since moving into elder shot pinch Leicester City successful 2009-2010.

Alongside her awesome honours pinch England, nan goalkeeper won a German convention and cup double pinch Wolfsburg successful 2018-19, earlier winning nan FA Women's Cup pinch Manchester United successful 2023-24.

In 2022-23 Earps won nan Women's Super League Golden Glove prize, earlier being named BBC Women's Footballer of nan Year and BBC Sports Personality of nan Year, beating cricketer Stuart Broad and heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson to nan latter.

Earps was besides named successful nan Fifpro women's World XI squad successful some 2023 and 2024.

She did not adhd immoderate silverware this play arsenic PSG went trophyless.