London City Lionesses have officially announced the signing of former Manchester United goalkeeper Mary Earps, who has agreed to a two-year contract with the club.
Earps departed Manchester United in the summer of 2024 after an impressive five-year spell during which she made 125 appearances. Negotiations over a contract extension had taken place for several months, but both sides were unable to reach an agreement, leading to her exit as a free agent to join Paris Saint-Germain.
During her time at Leigh Sports Village, Earps set new Women’s Super League (WSL) records for the most clean sheets in a single season as well as the highest overall total. She also played a crucial role in Manchester United’s historic Women’s FA Cup triumph, where the team secured their first major trophy with a commanding 4-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium.
On the international front, Earps achieved significant success with the England national team, claiming titles such as the UEFA Women’s Championship, the Women’s Finalissima, the SheBelieves Cup, and the Arnold Clark Cup. She retired from international football in May 2025, having earned 53 caps for her country.
Among her individual honours are The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper awards for both 2022 and 2023, the FIFA Women’s World Cup Golden Glove in 2023, as well as being named the BBC Sports Personality of the Year and the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year in 2023.
Following two successful seasons in France, Earps has now returned to England to play for London City Lionesses.
Speaking after her signing, Earps expressed her enthusiasm: “I’m absolutely thrilled and really looking forward to this new challenge. I think the club truly reflects what I stand for. I can’t wait to get started and dive into work. This marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter.”
She added, “The club’s values align perfectly with what I want to represent. They share my passion for making a positive impact on the game. Every conversation I had with them was uplifting, and with each one, I became more eager to be part of this journey.”
Commenting on the club’s infrastructure and ambition, she said, “The vision here is remarkable, especially with the new training facility coming up. It highlights what our owner Michele Kang and everyone involved want to accomplish — to truly go for it. There’s something very special here.”
The experienced shot-stopper continued, “It’s about setting a standard and showing that we want to compete at the top level quickly. I’m looking forward to working with Elene Lete and the rest of the goalkeeping unit. Elene had some outstanding performances last season, and I hope we can push each other to improve while enjoying the process.”
Earps also had a message for the supporters: “I’m very excited to begin this journey and create memorable moments together. I can’t wait to play in front of the fans.”
She concluded, “I’m excited to get to know my new teammates, the staff, and to understand the club’s style of play and culture. I want to give everything I can to help London City achieve its goals and be as successful as possible. I still feel I have plenty to contribute to the game, and that’s exactly why I chose this club.”
Reflecting on the challenge ahead, she noted, “The WSL is incredibly competitive. The team had a fantastic 2025/26 campaign, finishing mid-table in their debut season. Now it’s about progressing further up the table and striving for even better results.”
London City Lionesses finished sixth in the WSL last season, 13 points behind Manchester United, who secured fourth place.
