Mary Earps Returns to Women’s Super League with London City Lionesses
Mary Earps has never been one to tiptoe into a new chapter. If all goes to script, her return to the Women’s Super League will begin under the floodlights on Friday night, staring down the club that helped turn her into a global star.
London City Lionesses’ new goalkeeper could make her debut against Manchester United in the season opener (19:00 BST). For Earps, that twist in the fixture list felt less like coincidence and more like fate.
“It was meant to be,” she admitted to BBC Sport, reflecting on the possibility of walking out against United again.
From United icon to global figure
Earps spent five seasons at United, a spell that coincided with the peak of her career. She became England’s number one, twice won Fifa’s goalkeeper of the year and, in 2024, helped United finally lift their first major trophy with the FA Cup.
- More than 100 appearances.
- One historic piece of silverware.
- And a connection with the fanbase that still runs deep.
“I got a nice reception at Old Trafford [in the Women’s Champions League last season] and it meant a great deal to me at that time,” she said. “United has changed a lot since I left, but I spent five wonderful years there and I made amazing memories.
“I won an FA Cup and met a lot of incredible people. I know the fans don’t change – they are still as hardcore as ever.”
Her club form bled into the international stage. Earps played a central role in England’s Euro 2022 triumph and their run to the 2023 World Cup final, performances that pushed her into the mainstream. By the end of 2023 she was BBC Sports Personality of the Year and one of the most recognisable athletes in the country.
The spotlight, though, turned harsh last November. The release of her book sparked controversy and dominated headlines for weeks. Yet when she came back to Old Trafford with Paris St-Germain in the Women’s Champions League, the response from United supporters was clear: warm applause, and a mural of her still painted outside the stadium.
Paris pause, English pull
Earps left United in search of Champions League football and trophies, and she found both opportunity and breathing space at PSG. Two years in France, 22 appearances in the Première Ligue last season, and a rare chance to step away from the constant noise of English football.
“I’m grateful for all the amazing love and support that I’ve had over the years, but it was nice to be away,” she said. “PSG is a great club. Getting to experience the Parc des Princes, the French food, the Parisian way of life and the language – I think it was good for me.
“I’m an intense person, especially when I’m on the pitch, so it was good for me to be able to take a period of reflection away from the craziness in England.
“But that being said, I’m incredibly grateful for this platform that I’ve been given so it’s not a complaint. I went away to push myself out of my comfort zone.”
When her contract expired, the pull of home grew too strong to ignore. The atmospheres. The edge. The feeling that the WSL brings on a matchday.
“Of course, there’s always things that you miss. I’m very, very happy to be home,” she said. “I missed the English football culture – the way you feel when you walk into a stadium, the electricity of the crowd, the feeling around women’s football in this country.
“I knew I was probably going to miss that going away which is why I’m so excited to be back. Distance makes the heart grow fonder.”
A new project, a familiar fight
Earps has not come back to a comfort zone. London City have made a statement with their recruitment, bringing in two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas and Spain defender Mapi Leon alongside the England goalkeeper.
Big names, big ambitions. But no guarantees.
Earps started both of London City’s last two pre-season games, yet she knows the number one shirt is not hers by right. Elene Lete impressed last season and set a high bar.
“The reality of it is that I’ve been here a few weeks and I’m trying to earn my place in the team every single day,” Earps said. “Elene did a great job last year and it won’t be easy between us to see who starts. I think that is another great thing about being part of a fantastic squad.
“I just want to contribute to the team’s success and hopefully that is playing a lot of games and being a part of their history in some small way.”
Internationally, Earps has already drawn a line. She announced her retirement from England duty in 2025, closing a defining chapter for the Lionesses. Her club career, though, is nowhere near its final pages.
She has signed a two-year deal with London City and insists there is still room to grow, even at 33, as the club aims to climb the WSL.
“I want to continue to play at the highest level, to win at the highest level for as long as possible and to be a part of something special,” she said. “I really do believe that London City will go on to do great things for a long time. They want to be the best in class and world-leading.
“That is something that I’m always pushing to be – to be the best version of myself as a player and a person every day.
“It’s a great place to be for me to max out on whatever potential I have left. The moment that I don’t think I can learn any more, I won’t continue to play.
“I still feel like I’ve got a lot to give and hopefully there’s some fantastic days around the corner. I’m really looking forward to this chapter.”
On Friday night, that chapter could open against Manchester United, beneath a mural that still bears her face and in front of fans who once sang her name. The stage is familiar. The stakes, and the shirt, are very different.
