Mary Earps has always been a figure who leads from the front, whether she is protecting the goal for England or using her platform to highlight challenges within the women’s game. This summer she was the first player to sign for the London City Lionesses as they assembled a squad brimming with international talent.
After two seasons in France with Paris Saint‑Germain, Earps is returning to the Women’s Super League, describing the French stint as "a very different environment" that helped her grow both on and off the pitch. In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports ahead of the WSL’s opening weekend on 4 September, when London City will face her former club Manchester United, Earps reflected on her time abroad: "I really feel like I was able to go away and work on myself for a couple of years. There were things in my game that I’ve been able to kind of work on as well." She went on to explain how living away from home, learning a new language, and adapting to a new culture gave her a deeper understanding of herself. "Immersing yourself in a new language, a new culture, a new city, a new country, it teaches you a lot about who you are and who you want to become," she said.
Earps has never shied away from big moves. Before joining Manchester United, she spent a season with German powerhouse Wolfsburg, an experience that now gives her empathy for teammates who are also making big transitions. "There are players moving clubs for the first time, others moving countries and learning new languages.
I know how hard that can be, but even moving back to England and speaking English is still a transition," she noted. The Lionesses’ recruitment drive has produced a roster that reads like a who’s‑who of women’s football. The headline signing is Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas, who left Barcelona for Bromley, followed by her Barcelona teammate Mapi Leon and French international Kadidiatou Diani. Already in the squad are established stars such as Kosovare Asllani, Delphine Cascarino and Grace Geyoro.
While the calibre of the squad suggests superstardom, Earps reminded us that everyone is still a newcomer to this particular project, and that shared novelty can forge a strong sense of camaraderie essential for success. "I feel very much part of the newness of it all, and it’s nice when other people are experiencing that for the first time as well. Even the players who have been here a year or so are still adjusting," she said.
She likened the atmosphere to a first day at school: "Everyone is nervous because everyone’s doing the same thing. But there’s a lot of experience in the room as well. Many of the players have won trophies and have incredible pedigree, so we’re all bonded by that experience and by having faced each other before." Earps is not guaranteed the No 1 shirt straight away.
She will compete with last season’s starter Elene Lete—who renewed her contract this summer—as well as younger keepers Sophia Poor and Sophie Hillyerd. The competition should push everyone to raise their standards. Defensively, London City will aim to tighten a back line that conceded 35 goals last season. For context, the league’s top two sides, Manchester City and Arsenal, together let in just 33, while Chelsea’s defence was the stingiest with only 20 goals conceded.
To challenge the traditional “Big Three,” the Lionesses will need a significant improvement in defensive solidity. When asked how she plans to build that solidity with her new defenders, Earps highlighted the importance of understanding individual habits.
"Full‑backs and centre‑backs are very different positions. You have to learn each player’s preferred positioning, recovery runs, how they like to receive the ball—whether they want it in front of them or to the side, how many steps they take forward," she explained. "And they need to understand my style as a goalkeeper, where I like to be, what kind of keeper I am. It’s a lot of small details that make a big difference." She added that communication often happens off the pitch as well: "I sometimes grab a conversation over lunch or between training reps and we bounce ideas off each other all the time." London City’s first real test will come on 4 September when they open the season against Manchester United at Hayes Lane, a match that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Earps acknowledged the challenge, noting the turbulent summer United have endured, including the departure of long‑time head coach Marc Skinner and the appointment of former Hearts boss Eva Olid. Reflecting on her five‑year spell at United, Earps said, "I have incredible memories there and met some amazing people. The club has changed a lot, but they still have fantastic players.
It will be a tough game, but I love a challenge. The support at United is always fantastic, home and away, so I know they’ll try to make it a difficult atmosphere for us." She also paid tribute to Skinner, under whom she won an FA Cup: "Winning that FA Cup with Marc gives me goose‑bumps just thinking about it. He also helped the club reach three other finals, so I wish him all the best in his next chapter." Looking ahead, Earps’ focus is on her own new chapter and on helping London City write a landmark season.
Whether the headline‑grabbing summer signings translate into on‑field success remains to be seen, but the excitement surrounding the project is undeniable, and fans are unlikely to forget this transformative period anytime soon.