Mary Earps stuns England teammates by retiring from international football | OneFootball

Mary Earps has shocked her England teammates by retiring from international football with immediate effect, saying it is the right time “to step aside and give the younger generation an opportunity to thrive”. Her decision comes only 36 days before the start of the 2025 European Championship in Switzerland, where England will be hoping to defend their title.

Thehe goalkeeper has had discussions with the Lionesses head coach, Sarina Wiegman, about retiring from international duty for 12 to 18 months. It is also understood that Earps informed Wiegman she was going to retire during England’s last camp in April, but was asked to reconsider.

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

Earps revealed to her England teammates on Monday night her decision to step aside and said her goodbyes, having paid for her own flights in order to do so in person.

“I have taken the difficult decision to retire internationally,” she said. “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.”

Chelsea’s Hannah Hampton started in the double header against Belgium in April, with Earps having been on the bench in three out of England’s four games in 2025. It is understood that Wiegman has called up four goalkeepers in recent camps in order to get ready for life without Earps.

Earps said: “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.”

Wiegman said she had hoped the Euro 2022 winner, who has been in a battle with Hampton for the No 1 shirt, would be available this summer, saying in April that Hampton was a “little bit ahead” of Earps in the race for the starting place when England open their defend their crown.

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

“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.”

The England defender Jess Carter has praised Earps for her “bravery” in making the decision, saying: “Playing for England meant so much to her. You could see it every time she wore the top. I think people maybe forget that what she’s done for the women’s game off the pitch is phenomenal, particularly the goalkeepers. I don’t think they get much love. And I think that the way that she’s helped to raise women’s football in this country is unbelievable.

“I think it’s just really sad. I think firstly the bravery that she has, to have stayed true to herself and made the decision to leave. I think we forget – this is such a tough job to do for club, for country and I think people forget that sometimes. Yes, it’s a team sport but ultimately you need to be the best version of you in order for the team to be successful. I think it’s really brave for the decision that she’s made and sometimes it’s not just about the team, it’s also about you. I’m really sad about it, but I really wish her all the best in whatever she does next.”

Carter, who arrived at St George’s Park fresh from helping Gotham FC win the inaugural Concacaf Women’s Champions Cup, was asked about the squad’s reaction to Earps’ decision and said: “I was surprised. I think Mary’s an incredible person, an incredible goalkeeper. I don’t really know many people who have worked as hard as she has. So I think I’m just sad that she’s not going to be here. Mary was here yesterday to say goodbye to everyone.

“I think it was a surprise for some and maybe not for others. I don’t know. I just kind of know how I felt really. But I think we just almost had to move on from it. We’ve got a game that we need to focus on.”

Earps has 53 caps and was named Fifa’s best women’s goalkeeper two years running, in 2022 and 2023, after her heroics at the European Championship and Golden Glove-winning performances at the 2023 World Cup. She was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year and BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year in 2023.

The 32‑year‑old goalkeeper, 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.

Meanwhile, the England defender Millie Bright has revealed why she withdrew from the Lionesses camp on Monday, explaining she needs time to look after her mental health, as well as letting her body recover. The Chelsea centre-back will miss the games against Portugal and Spain and told The Rest Is Football: Daly Brightness podcast: “Mentally and physically, I’m probably at my limits, which is why I’m not at camp, which is a really hard decision but sometimes you just have to take that time for yourself.

“In the game we play, sometimes there are a lot of pressures and actually sometimes you just need to breathe, take a step back, value yourself and your mental health, my body and just say ‘no’, this is what’s best for me. I’ve played a lot of football. We are humans, we’re not robots, we’re not objects. At some point, things will take their toll on you and I just needed time to breathe and switch off. Sometimes there are bigger things to life than sport and – right now – my mental health, I don’t play around with it, and I need time to just breathe.”

Header image: [Photograph: Will Matthews/PA]