England goalkeeper Mary Earps says she had a “proper little cry” when she decided to leave Manchester United to join Ligue 1 club, Paris Saint-Germain.
The Lioness, 31, announced on Instagram in June that after five years with the Manchester team, it was time for a new challenge.
“It’s not easy,” Earps admits of making the decision. “Sometimes people think that the answer just comes to us and then it’s like fairy-tales and rainbows and sunshine. For some people, that might be the case, but I think sometimes it can be a struggle to make that decision, leaving things behind to take that next step. It is really scary.
“I have a lot of respect for the people at Manchester United and I’ve really enjoyed my time there and had some incredible memories. Unfortunately, some things didn’t come together and I felt like it was best to move on. It was really sad. It was emotional. I had a proper little cry about it.”
Is she good at dealing with big changes?
“Well, we’re about to find out. Ask me again in six months and I’ll come back and tell you,” quips the Wilmslow footballer, who was awarded an MBE earlier this year.
“I think I’m just trying to be as prepared and organised as possible. Right now, I’m currently in my bedroom, packing all of my stuff, trying to get everything ready for the big move in a few days. I’ve moved to a different country before, including Germany, so I know at times it’s going to be uncomfortable or I’m going to miss home and things like that.
“I need to sit in those emotions and feel those emotions, because it’s completely normal, and find my rhythm. I think sometimes you need to step outside your comfort zone to push yourself to the next level. And that’s what I just felt was best for me. I needed a change,” she adds. “And hopefully, I can continue to grow as a player and as a person. I’m excited about my next chapter at PSG.”
She says she is “super serious” and “intense” on game day, doing everything in her power to get into the right mindset.
“I think a lot of my teammates would say I’m super serious on game day, which is definitely true. I’m super intense on the pitch, and I’d like to think I’m quite different off the pitch. I’m not going to say I’m super chill, but I’m much more relaxed. So, game face-on and game face-off look different for me,” says Earps, who served as vice-captain at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and received the Golden Glove award for best goalkeeper of the tournament.
“Years of trials and tribulations [have helped me figure out] what I feel best keeps me in a good focus and relaxed zone. And I think for me, that comes from really simple things, like coffee in the morning, going on a walk – I like to get some fresh air.
“If the game is in the evening, I like to relax for as much of the day as possible. Maybe I’ll run a few errands, watch a TV series, not spend too much time on my feet or exert too much energy. I then listen to music to get a bit of a buzz on, in terms of really getting excited for the game.”
When Earps accepted her Best Women’s Goalkeeper award at The Best FIFA Football Awards in Paris last year, she dedicated it to “anyone who has ever been in a dark place”, crediting the people who “picked [her] up off the kitchen floor” to help her achieve her dreams.
She added: “There’s only one of you in the world, and that’s more than good enough. Be unapologetically yourself.”
It’s a message Earps also champions in her clothing line MAE27, which she launched in June 2023, and more recently through the logo T-shirt edit she worked on with Victoria’s Secret. It was an opportunity to celebrate how much her relationship with herself and her body has changed over the years.
“I think being unapologetically yourself is super important,” Earps says today. “We live in a world where we’re always looking at other people and comparing ourselves to what they do or have. I’m the happiest when I’m in my own bubble, with my people, doing the things that I love.
“When you’re younger, you’re usually thinking about what’s cool to wear, what’s cool to do and what’s cool to say, but as I got a little bit older and realised what was important to me, I finally accepted that maybe I am a little bit goofy. That makes me laugh.
“As an athlete, you’re always comparing your body to another athlete. Everybody does it. But I try and focus on fuelling my body rather than what it looks like. Some days are easier than others, but I think it’s about being happy in your own skin. Being proud to be healthy and not wishing your life away.”
She has now teamed up with Warburtons on their campaign to help Brits hit their protein goals.
According to new research by the UK bakery brand, 45% of the 2,000 people surveyed find incorporating protein into their diet confusing, due to various health claims (38%) and conflicting information about how much protein we should be eating (33%).
“I try and get protein in pretty much every meal because I know my body really well and what works best for me. But not everybody is the same,” says Earps. “And to be honest, I try and get as much natural protein in through the food I eat, and then I’ll top it with supplements or whey protein wherever necessary.”
Warburtons has partnered with Lioness goalkeeper Mary Earps MBE to help Brits achieve their protein goals. For more information, visit warburtons.co.uk
