November 26 – Chelsea and England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton has been voted BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year 2025, a clear sign of how far the profile of goalkeepers has risen in the women’s game. A position that once delivered the line “put the slow kid in goal” is now producing some of the sport’s biggest and juiciest storylines, and Hampton has been front and centre over the last year.
In a trophy-laden season, she won a domestic treble with Chelsea, and followed that up as England’s number one, saving two penalties in the Euro 2025 final shootout against Spain as the Lionesses lifted the trophy.
“I definitely didn’t expect it with all the other players nominated,” she told BBC Sport. “I think they’ve all had unbelievable years.”
Hampton is only the second goalkeeper to win the award, following Mary Earps in 2023, and the fallout between the two keepers has dominated headlines.
Earps retired from international football after losing the England number one shirt to Hampton, then accused the England manager, Sarina Wiegman of rewarding “bad behaviour” by recalling Hampton in 2023, calling her “disruptive and unreliable”.
Hampton has responded by steering clear of the drama. “People can say whatever they want to say… It’s down to myself whether I want to let that affect me. I definitely know it’s not going to,” she said. “I’m just going to focus on myself.”
Her performances at the Euros proved why. Hampton saved two penalties in England’s marathon shootout win over Sweden and then denied both Mariona Caldentey and Aitana Bonmati in the final. “It was my moment to be like, this is what I can do for you guys,” she said.
For Hampton, the recognition is part of a bigger shift. “Women’s goalkeeping has definitely taken off,” she said, crediting predecessors like Carly Telford, Karen Bardsley, and Earps. “It’s a lonely position, but very rewarding.”
Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]