After five years with Manchester United, Mary Earps has decided it’s time for a new chapter.
The talented goalkeeper, who played a crucial role in England’s Euro 2022 victory, hinted that staying with a club in “transition” doesn’t align with her career goals at this point in her life.
She expressed her heartfelt gratitude to United fans in an emotional Instagram post.
In her message, Earps wrote, “Dear 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.”
With her contract up, Earps is on the verge of signing with Paris Saint-Germain after rejecting a new deal with the Red Devils.
Talks for an extension had been ongoing for two years but failed to reach an agreement.
Reports suggest Earps was not convinced by the club’s long-term plans.
It’s been a challenging season for United Women, finishing in their worst-ever WSL position—fifth place.
The team also faced the loss of key players like Alessia Russo to Arsenal and dealt with social media abuse over the Mason Greenwood situation.
The upheaval continued with the departure of Captain Katie Zelem and the club’s stars like Lucia Garcia moving to Mexican club Monterrey.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s recent admission that plans for the women’s team are “TBC” and the team’s upcoming move out of their £10 million facility to accommodate the men’s team during renovations only added to the instability.
This backdrop of uncertainty has prompted several players, including Nikita Parris, to consider their options as their contracts near expiration.
Cherished Memories
Despite the tough times, Earps reflected on the highlights of her United career: “I’m proud to have played every league minute for the badge for the past five seasons, and even more proud for us as a team to have broken the record of the most clean sheets kept in a season in 2023.
Winning the FA Cup at Wembley was the icing on the cake.”
Final Farewell
Earps concluded her message with gratitude: “Thank you for your incredible support over the years; the ups and downs, I’m grateful for it all.
To my teammates, there have been some special people to grace our changing rooms over the past five years.
Although this United chapter has sadly come to a close, I take with me a heart full of incredible moments.”
Onward and Upward
As she embarks on this new journey, Earps leaves a heartfelt message to United fans and teammates: “I wish you all the very best for the future and I hope I can continue to make you proud in my next chapter.
GGMU, Your number 27, Mary x.”
Sports News
TDPel Media
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!Share on Facebook «||» Share on Twitter «||» Share on Reddit «||» Share on LinkedIn