Hannah Hampton has strongly dismissed claims that there is ‘bad blood’ between herself and former England No.1 goalkeeper Mary Earps.
The Chelsea goalkeeper surpassed Earps as England’s first-choice goalkeeper going into Euro 2025.
Earps decided to retire from international football ahead of the tournament, after discovering that she would play second fiddle to Hampton.
Hampton played a huge role for England to help them successfully defend the European Championship, after Earps helped the Lionesses lift the trophy three years prior.
Hannah Hampton shuts down rumours of ‘bad blood’ with Mary Earps
Speaking in an interview with Glamour Magazine, Hannah Hampton has dismissed rumours that she and Mary Earps don’t see eye-to-eye.
She said: “Everyone’s trying to say that there’s bad blood between us, and it’s so horrible to see because if you question it, people are going to be like, ‘She’s just doing this for that…’ You don’t question it, and people are like, ‘Oh, she’s not said anything about it.’ It’s so hard.”
Paris Saint-Germain keeper Earps handed the Yachine Trophy to Hampton at the Ballon d’Or awards, handed out to the best women’s goalkeeper of the year.
It was the first time that the trophy had been handed out in the women’s game, after much effort by Earps.
Hampton continued: “It was a lovely moment when Mary was on stage at the Ballon d’Or.
“She’d pushed so much for that award, and she pushed for the women’s game and for women’s goalkeeper to be seen and recognised.
“Everything she’s done for the England game and women’s football in general is something I’ve wanted to continue and build on. I’ve got big shoes and big gloves to fill. I’m trying my hardest. I don’t think I’ll ever get to the standard she was at, but it was a lovely thing that she was able to be there.”
Hannah Hampton on Mary Earps presenting her with the Yachine Trophy at the Ballon d’Or:
🗣️ “She’d pushed so much for that award, and she pushed for the women’s game and for women’s goalkeeper to be seen and recognised. Everything she’s done for the England game and women’s… pic.twitter.com/0iDqzfIaW6
— Chelsea Women (@CFC__Women) October 28, 2025
Hampton and Earps’ battle to become England No.1
Former Manchester United goalkeeper Earps won 53 caps with England between 2017 and 2025.
Hampton was first called up to the England squad in October 2021 and made her debut during a goalless draw with Spain in 2022.
She played understudy to Earps at Euro 2022 and the 2023 Women’s World Cup, where England lost in the final to Spain.
It was during qualifying for Euro 2025 that Hampton began featuring in matches regularly.
In April 2024, she made her first competitive start in two years during a victory over the Republic of Ireland. A month later, she came off the bench to replace an injured Earps against France.
Hampton then made starts against France, Ireland and Sweden as the momentum began to shift towards the Chelsea goalkeeper.
In April 2025, England head coach Sarina Wiegman said that Hampton was a ‘little bit ahead’ of Earps in the running to start Euro 2025. It was one month later when Earps announced her retirement from international football.
The England goalkeeper, who saved the Lionesses from defeat to become crowned European Champions in July, speaks to Glamour’s Lucy Morgan about resilience, creating change and proving people wrong https://t.co/ORH8tj8kqb
— British GLAMOUR (@GlamourMagUK) October 28, 2025
Has Earps spoken about Hampton?
Earps has not spoken about Hampton directly but congratulated the Lionesses as a whole for their Euro 2025 success.
She did say on Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place podcast that she felt ‘villainised’ over her decision to retire from international football.
Fans on social media also noted the ‘awkwardness’ of Earps handing Hampton the Yachine Trophy at the Ballon d’Or awards. Others commented that it was a ‘passing of the torch’ moment.
Hampton told the Telegraph in June that Earps didn’t deserve the ‘scrutiny’ she faced after retiring from international football.
Earps also said that she was ‘at peace’ with her decision to retire before Euro 2025.
