Hampton Secures Prestigious BBC Football Award
Chelsea and England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton has been crowned the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year for 2025. The announcement was made on Tuesday, 25 November 2025, recognising her exceptional performances over the past season.
A Star Role in England's Euro Victory
Hampton's award follows a career-defining summer where she was instrumental in the England squad's success. She starred as the England women's team clinched the UEFA European Championship for the second time in a row in July. This historic back-to-back victory cemented the team's status as a dominant force in international football.
Navigating a High-Profile Goalkeeping Transition
The path to this triumph was not without its drama. Hampton replaced the established Mary Earps as England’s first-choice goalkeeper just before the tournament. This decision prompted Earps to announce her retirement from international duty. The situation was further complicated when Earps released her autobiography, in which she criticised Hampton, describing her former teammate as "disruptive" and "unreliable" during an earlier period when Hampton was dropped from the national squad.
However, demonstrating significant grace, Hampton used her acceptance speech to acknowledge Earps's own legacy. Upon accepting the award, she specifically namechecked her predecessor, stating that Earps was a figure who had "changed the perception of women’s goalkeeping" and noting that those who came before her had inspired her own rise to the top.
