England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton has revealed ahead of Euro 2025 how negative media scrutiny made her want to quit football earlier in her career.
The Chelsea goalkeeper has gone from Mary Earps’ understudy to England’s undisputed No. 1 going into the tournament in Switzerland this summer.
Earps slipped down the pecking order, with Sarina Wiegman admitting in April that Hampton was “a little ahead” in the race for the No. 1 jersey this summer.
The 2023 Ballon d’Or winner’s shock retirement from international football leaves Hampton as the Lionesses’ starter at Euro 2025.
It comes after an excellent season in which she helped Chelsea clinch a league and cup double, going unbeaten in the Women’s Super League.
However, Hampton has revealed to fashion magazine Elle, that she wanted to quit the sport.
England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton opens up on past media scrutiny
Before she was England No. 1 going into Euro 2025, Hannah Hampton faced negative media scrutiny during her time at Aston Villa.
As reported by Elle, a story surfaced suggesting that she had been dropped from the England squad and Villa games because of ‘attitude problems. It was claimed she was unlikely to be selected for England again.
Hampton told Elle: “Media scrutiny gets to you more than you realise. At a young age, I was likely exposed to more of it than most people are in their entire career, and I wasn’t ready.’
Big Gloves To Fill: Is Goalie Hannah Hampton The Lionesses' Answer To Winning The Euros? https://t.co/ytOoWr658E
— ELLEUK (@ELLEUK) June 12, 2025
The 24-year-old insisted the stories were untrue and that the speculation made her reconsider her football career.
She added: “It was harder to find that fight in me to prove people wrong, but somehow I managed it.
“I had all my friends and my family around me at the time to guide me in the right direction and keep me going. It’s worked out for the best – I’ve got a lot to thank them for.”
Hampton, who joined Villa from local rivals Birmingham City in 2021, would make the move to Chelsea in 2023.
It was during the qualifiers for Euro 2025, where Hampton started to show signs that she could overtake Mary Earps in the England pecking order.
Hannah Hampton speaks out on Euro 2025 pressure
Hannah Hampton and the England squad hope to defend their European Championship crown at Women’s Euro 2025 this summer.
The 24-year-old was part of the squad that won the trophy in 2022, but did not make an appearance during the tournament.
Hampton, who has 15 caps to her name, is the only goalkeeper in the squad to have a senior cap for the Lionesses.
The Euro 2025 fixture schedule sees England kick off their campaign against France on July 5th. They then face the Netherlands and Wales on July 9th and 13th respectively.
Hampton told Elle: “There’s pressure on everyone. It’s going to be more competitive than anything [we’ve experienced before].
“We know that if we can prepare ourselves the right way, then we can put on a good show for everyone – that’s what we’re aiming for.”
