Mary Earps has always been a leader on the pitch, whether she is protecting the England goal or speaking out about challenges in women's football. This summer she became the first player to sign for the newly assembled London City Lionesses, a side that has been built around a constellation of high‑profile talent. After spending two seasons in France with Paris Saint‑Germain, Earps returns to the Women's Super League, describing her time abroad as "a very different environment" that helped her grow both as a goalkeeper and as a person.
In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports ahead of the WSL's opening weekend on September 4, when London City will meet her former club Manchester United, Earps reflected on the personal development she experienced while living overseas. "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 said. "As a person, living away from home, immersing yourself in a new language, a new culture, a new city, a new country, it teaches you a lot of things about yourself. It gives you space to reflect and figure out more about who you are and who you want to be as a person." Earps has never shied away from bold moves.
Before joining Manchester United, she spent a season with German powerhouse Wolfsburg, an experience that gives her a unique empathy for teammates who are making similar transitions. "There are players who are moving clubs for the first time, there are those moving countries and learning new languages. I know how hard that is, but even moving back to England and speaking English can still be a big adjustment," she explained. The roster that London City has assembled is nothing short of spectacular.
The headline signing is Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas, who left her boyhood club Barcelona for Bromley. She is joined by fellow Spanish international Mapi Leon, French star Kadidiatou Diani, and other established internationals such as Kosovare Asllani, Delphine Cascarino and Grace Geyoro. The sheer depth of talent means that even seasoned professionals like Earps will feel like newcomers in a brand‑new environment. "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, but even the players that have been here before, they've maybe only been here a year or so," Earps said.
"That's what happens when you're a brand‑new entity – it's exciting because you get to be part of that history, and I truly believe London City will achieve incredible things for a long time. That's a massive reason why I came here." 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 an incredible pedigree, so we're all bonded by that experience and maybe by having faced each other before," Earps added. "I honestly can't speak highly enough of the group I've experienced so far – they've been brilliant at welcoming me." It is not yet certain whether Earps will immediately claim the No.1 jersey.
She will likely compete with last season's starter Elene Lete, who renewed her contract over the summer, as well as younger keepers Sophia Poor and Sophie Hillyerd. Regardless of the hierarchy, Earps knows that London City must tighten its defence. The Lionesses conceded 35 goals last season, a figure that, while not the worst, lags behind the league leaders Manchester City and Arsenal, who together let in just 33, and Chelsea, who kept a tidy 20. When asked how a former Golden Glove winner plans to help solidify the back line, Earps emphasized the importance of understanding each defender's individual traits.
"Full‑backs and centre‑backs are very different positions. You have to learn their preferred starting positions, how they like to make recovery runs, where they like to receive the ball – in front of them, at their feet, or a couple of steps forward.
And they need to understand my style, where I like to be and what type of goalkeeper I am. It's a lot of small details that make a big difference," she explained. She added that communication extends beyond training sessions.
"I sometimes grab a conversation over lunch or between reps and we're bouncing ideas off each other all the time. It's about building trust on and off the pitch." London City's first real test will come on September 4 at Hayes Lane, when they host Manchester United. Earps' former club has endured a turbulent summer, losing key players and replacing head coach Marc Skinner with former Hearts manager Eva Olid.
"I was at Man United for five years. I have incredible memories there and met some amazing people," Earps said. "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 massive, home and away, so I know they'll try to make it a difficult atmosphere for us." She reflected fondly on her time under Skinner, recalling an FA Cup triumph that still gives her "goosebumps" and praising his role in guiding the club to three additional finals. "He helped the club reach those heights, and I wish him all the best in his next chapter," she added. Now, Earps' focus is on her own new chapter and on contributing to a landmark season for London City.
The club's summer signings have generated unprecedented buzz, and while the media spotlight is intense, the true test will be translating that hype into consistent performances on the field. As the Lionesses embark on this historic campaign, fans and players alike will be watching closely to see how this star‑laden project unfolds.