Hannah Hampton has been named the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year for 2025.
And she was presented with the prize by her Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor – who opted for a spot of improvisation to surprise her goalkeeper.
In a video shared on social media, Bompastor joins the Blues squad with the trophy concealed behind her back.
“Whose birthday was on Sunday? Who had their birthday on Sunday?” Bompastor asks her squad, with the players all pointing to a puzzled Hampton, whose birthday was on Sunday, 16th November.
“I was not with you, Hannah. I was sad not to be with you to celebrate your birthday. So I asked my kids if they were you, what they would do for your birthday present.
“You know what they said? A rabbit.
“So I just brought a rabbit for you, from home!”
Bompastor then brings the trophy out, with the squad bursting out into applause and cheering, and Hampton laughing.
“I was actually expecting a rabbit!” says the goalkeeper.
“It’s lovely, and very nice that Sonia could give it!”
Hannah Hampton: I didn’t expect it
Hannah Hampton later said to the Chelsea club website: “I definitely didn’t expect it. With all the other players nominated, I think they’ve all had unbelievable years. I don’t think I did until the final moment when Sonia revealed the trophy.
“Winning the Euros is special. Being able to put on an England badge is a special and proud moment. You never take it for granted. Even if it’s just around the hotel and you’re wearing the kit, it’s always a lovely moment when you’ve got any sort of England badge on your chest.
“At club level, the season we had last year, the treble-winning season, it’s an unbelievable achievement from the club and nothing less than what they deserve.”
Hampton helped Chelsea to the domestic treble in 2024-25, and then famously helped the Lionesses to their second successive Euros title via a quarter-final penalty shootout against Sweden, followed by another shootout against Spain in the final. She was named as the first-ever female winner of the Yachin Award at the Ballon d’Or earlier this year.
The other nominees for this year’s BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year were Aitana Bonmati (Spain and Barcelona), Mariona Caldentey (Spain and Arsenal), Alessia Russo (England and Arsenal) and Patri Guijarro (Spain and Barcelona).
Its previous winners are Zambia’s Barbra Banda, England’s Mary Earps, England’s Beth Mead, Netherlands’ Vivianne Miedema, England’s Lucy Bronze, Norway’s Ada Hegerberg and Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala.
