Mary Earps opens up on learning French ahead of blockbuster move to PSG

Her last few summers have involved winning the Euros, making a World Cup final and winning a few Golden Gloves.

But this summer has looked a little different for Mary Earps as she reveals she’s become a Swiftie – all whilst desperately trying to learn French before she moves to Paris imminently.

Now, with 50 caps under her belt for England, Earps, 31, has been an integral part of the England women’s team in recent years – winning them more success than they’ve ever had.

This summer for Earps has involved training with the national team but also some off time which has seen her on holiday, at Silverstone watching the F1 and letting her hair down at Taylor Swift concerts.

In early July this year Earps joined Paris Saint-Germain after leaving Manchester United where she played for five years.

In 2023 she was named BBC Sports Personality of the year and turned down a new contract for United with her claiming the club’s ambitions didn’t align with hers.

Speaking to the Mail, Earps said she is now desperately trying to learn French and that PSG is where she ‘really wants to be’.

‘I’m moving to Paris in a matter of days now,’ she said. ‘There’s a lot to do in such a short space of time.

‘But I am really looking forward to the new journey and this new chapter.

‘I’m most excited to move to Paris for the football. I cannot wait to play for a top team and to be in a position to compete and win trophies over the next few years.

‘That’s where I really want to be. Fighting at the top, I am really looking forward to that.

‘Generally, off the pitch I’ve heard incredible things about the city and I can’t wait to explore it.

‘One thing about me is I love languages, so I am doing all I can to become fluent as quickly as possible. But it will be a challenge I reckon.

‘I was out there the other week to sign for them and the city was crazy.

‘The director of the club was pointing everything out to me like “this is the new stadium for the Olympics, and this one and this one”.’

Two summers ago, the Lionesses were lighting up a home tournament that saw them crowned European champions for the first time in their history.

Then a year later they reached the World Cup final in Australia before losing to Spain 1-0.

Just last week the Lionesses secured their place in the 2025 Euros that will be hosted in Switzerland next summer.

Earps said their next steps is to gain the support of the nation again.

‘First and foremost, it was great to qualify. We had to secure our place first, so it’s very much a one step at a time thing.

‘Of course, we’ve enjoyed some tremendous success over the last few years, making a World Cup final and the biggest success was winning the Euros.

‘So were going into that next tournament as champions.

‘It’s a very big thing and a bit title we can wear with pride, because we earned it.

‘But equally, that’s in the past and now it’s about the next tournament and in order to have that expectation and belief and support again, you must earn that as well.

‘We’re going to be training hard, there’s a year to go so lots of work to do, but I can’t wait.’

With brand sponsorship deals now with underwear brand Victoria's Secret, Puma and Chase bank, the goalkeeper is hot property.

Earps, who has won the FIFA Best Goalkeeper award for the last two years, has also branched out into food partnerships by working with vitamin brand Nutriburst and most recently, Warburtons.

Now working with the British baking firm to help educate people around protein, Earps told the Mail she doesn’t worry about how her body looks, but ‘how it performs’ and that she feels a responsibility to promote healthy eating.

‘It’s a really fine line and language is really important when speaking about nutrition rather than diet,’ she said. ‘We need to be really careful how we speak about it.

‘Food and fuel in your body, it’s not just about what your body looks like, it’s about how your body performs.

‘You need your body in order to live and survive and I think it’s a really important message that we send to young people.

‘Young women in particular but all young people. Just all people.

‘Naturally the more active I am and the more training I am doing, then the more fuel and protein I need.

‘But generally speaking, I try and keep my protein levels high, especially as a goalkeeper because our sport is a lot more strength endurance based.

‘My sport is a lot of shifting my body weight over and over again repeatedly and so I will be sure to pack a few of the new Warburton’s protein bagels in my training bag.’

Warburtons has partnered with Lioness goalkeeper and northern hero, Mary Earps MBE to help Brits achieve their protein goals! For an easy protein kick to fuel your everyday meals, check out Warburtons protein range, including their Protein Power Sliced Wholemeal Bread and Protein Thin Bagels. For more information: https://www.warburtons.co.uk/