Former England goalkeeper Mary Earps has revealed her emotional struggle after losing her starting position to Hannah Hampton, describing the experience as “unjust” in her forthcoming autobiography All In.

Earps, 32, who earned 53 caps and played a key role in England’s 2022 Women’s Euros triumph, said she told Lionesses head coach Sarina Wiegman that recalling Hampton, who had previously been dropped, felt like “rewarding bad behaviour.”

“I felt protective of the good energy we now had in goalkeeper training and the morale of the wider team,” Earps wrote. “Bad behaviour is being rewarded.”

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The Hampton Recall

At the time of Hampton’s recall in early 2023, Earps explained that it “did not make her feel comfortable”, given the disharmony in the squad that had previously surrounded the younger goalkeeper.

Hampton, 24, had initially been omitted from squads due to attitude concerns, although Wiegman declined to provide details, citing personal reasons. After her return, Hampton became the first-choice goalkeeper for Euro 2025 in Switzerland, where she played a pivotal role in helping England retain their European crown, including saving two penalties in the final shootout against Spain.

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Earps’ Emotional Struggle

Earps admitted that being dropped in favor of Hampton left her tearful and conflicted:

“It was a choice that went against my core values. The affinity I had for Sarina and this job — one I’d given every last cell of myself to — was being destroyed. The trust and respect evaporating.”

Despite being named Goalkeeper of the Tournament at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, Earps’ role diminished in 2024 as Hampton’s opportunities grew. In April 2025, Wiegman informed the Paris Saint-Germain keeper that she was no longer England’s main starter, prompting Earps to announce her international retirement ahead of Euro 2025.

“I felt the weight of my heart sink to the floor and the relief that I finally had clarity lift from my shoulders all at once,” Earps wrote.

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Moving On

Earps emphasized that she holds no personal ill will toward Hampton:

“She is a very good goalkeeper and I’ve tried to draw a line under all that. I have messaged her privately to say, ‘look, no bad blood.’”

Hampton has now firmly established herself as England’s number one, while Earps’ legacy remains defined by her trophy-winning performances, leadership, and penalty-saving heroics.