Mary Earps says Manchester United are in ‘period of transition’ as she leaves

Mary Earps has left Manchester United, saying that the club is about to undergo a period of transition and that it does not “align with the timing of where I’m at in my career”.

The England No 1 goalkeeper has been with United since 2019 but is now expected to join Paris Saint-Germain on a two-year contact. The club lost Alessia Russo and Ona Batlle on free transfers last summer and their captain, Katie Zelem, and the Spain forward Lucía García are also departing.

The 31-year-old Earps, who made 125 appearances for the club and broke the record for WSL clean sheets in a season, wrote: “Dear the United family. After five years of service to your great club, I have decided that it’s time for a new challenge. It’s a decision I’ve gone backwards and forwards on for some time, and is not one I’ve made lightly.

“The club is about to undergo a period of transition, and unfortunately I don’t feel it aligns with the timing of where I’m at in my career, therefore I think now is the right time to make a change and embark on a new challenge. There aren’t the right words, or enough words, to express my heartfelt gratitude to you all.”

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Earps had struggled to make her mark on the international stage, her call-ups limited, until 2021, when she was named as Sarina Wiegman’s first-choice goalkeeper. She played every game in the England’s victorious Euro 2022 campaign and during their run to the World Cup final in 2023, securing her place as one of the world’s best.

Earps won the FA Cup with United last season and, in addition to her back-to-back Fifa Best awards, Earps won the Golden Glove at the 2023 World Cup, was named the 2023 BBC Sports Personality of the Year and the 2023 BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year.

United said: “Everyone at the Manchester United would like to thank Mary for her fine service and wish her the best of luck in the next stage of her career.”

United have been heavily criticised for the decision to move the women’s team out of the £10m women’s and academy training facility at Carrington and into portable buildings so the men’s team can use the facility while their building undergoes a £50m renovation.