Yesterday it was officially confirmed that Mary Earps (31) had signed a two-year contract to become a Paris Saint-Germain player. Despite becoming the best goalkeeper in the women’s game with a move to France, The Guardian has reported that she rejected a more lucrative offer from Manchester United to secure the move.
Earps had spent the last five years at Manchester United but in a public statement explaining her decision revealed that she was uncertain about the direction of the club as it undergoes a transitional period. Speaking to L’Équipe, Earps revealed that this was not an easy decision for her to take.
As she explained, “It’s hard to leave your home country. The last few years in England have been incredible (an FA Cup win last season with Manchester United). I received a lot of messages of thanks after the announcement of my departure. There is a very big community around women’s football in England, the crowds are incredible. I hope the PSG fans will appreciate me as much, even if I will have to earn their respect for that.”
This will not be the first time that Earps has left England to pursue a career abroad, with the international joining VfL Wolfsburg for the 2018-19 season. However, in Paris, Earps will be entering a new dressing room at a very different point in her career, having widely become recognised as one of the best in her position during her time in Manchester.
