Fran Kirby announces England retirement after missing out on Euro 2025 squad

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The Guardian

·3 June 2025

Fran Kirby announces England retirement after missing out on Euro 2025 squad

Fran Kirby has announced her retirement from international football with immediate effect, after learning that she will not be part of Sarina Wiegman’s squad for the European Championship this summer.

In interviews with the BBC and ESPN, released shortly after England’s 2-1 defeat against Spain on Tuesday, the 31-year-old midfielder explained that she had already been planning to retire from England duty after Euro 2025 in July but she has brought that decision forward after being told she will not be going to Switzerland. Wiegman will name her final squad of 23 on Thursday.

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The news is the second sudden retirement by a member of the Lionesses’ Euro 2022-winning side in the space of eight days, after Mary Earps’s shock announcement in May. Kirby, who has 77 senior international caps and scored 19 goals, had been a key part of the national team setup since her debut in 2014.

“After being in the England team since I was 21, it’s time to close that chapter of my life. I didn’t ever want this day to come, but I cannot tell you how proud I am [that] it happened,” Kirby said in a statement posted on Instagram.

“It’s been the biggest honour to represent my country, one that I had only dreamt about as a young girl. My journey has been full of ups and downs, setbacks and achievements. Enough has been said and written about those but, regardless of whatever was thrown at me, I want you all to know that every time I put on that England badge I gave it 100%.

“Every single call-up, I accepted my role and did whatever was needed for the team. I wanted England to win. I’ve always been there to help England win. My mum had a dream of me representing my country and I’m so proud I was able to do that and play in front of you all.

“Starting in every game and winning the Euros in 2022 was a dream come true, to be part of change in women’s football was one of the best experiences I could ever have imagined.”

Header image: [Photograph: Catherine Ivill/AMA/Getty Images]