England’s Earps set to leave Man Utd, join PSG

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England goalkeeper Mary Earps is set to leave Manchester United and sign with French club Paris St-Germain on a free transfer.

The 31-year-old had been in talks with United about a potential contract extension but has decided to join PSG when her contract expires this month.

Earps joined United from Wolfsburg in 2019 and signed an extension in February 2021, which lasted until June 2023 with an option for an additional year.

United will not be participating in the Champions League next season, having finished fifth in the Women’s Super League, 20 points behind champions Chelsea.

Earps will be the second United star to leave on a free transfer in consecutive summers. Last July, her England teammate Alessia Russo moved to Arsenal at the end of her contract.

Last season, United manager Marc Skinner faced pressure from some fans but signed a new one-year contract in May.

For PSG, goalkeeping duties were shared by Katarzyna Kiedrzynek and Constance Picaud last season, with Kiedrzynek making a crucial mistake in their title-deciding defeat by Lyon in May.

Earps kept a clean sheet in the 4-0 victory over Tottenham in the Women’s FA Cup final last month.

Arsenal made an unsuccessful world-record bid for Earps last September.

Earps was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2023 in December for her role in England’s journey to their first World Cup final.

She played every minute of England’s seven World Cup matches, conceding only four goals, keeping three clean sheets, and saving a penalty in the final, which England lost 1-0 to Spain.

The Nottingham-born keeper was also part of England’s Euro 2022 triumph, helping the Lionesses secure their first major trophy.