Mary Earps says she ‘feels ready to share’ that she is in a ‘happy‘ same-sex relationship, with the Lionesses hero poised to discuss her mental health in her new autobiography.

The former England goalkeeper, 32, discusses her sexuality for the first time in her upcoming book All In in an effort to help those who are struggling with her identity.

In the memoir, she reflects on her ‘really happy relationship’, and has chosen to publish a statement confirming her sexuality so she can share her news on her own terms, while not distracting from other subjects in the book.

Earps, who plays football for French side Paris Saint-Germaintold The Sun: ‘I’ve always tried to keep my personal life separate from my professional one, but it would have felt inauthentic not to include something so important to me in this book.

‘I’m in a really happy relationship. The people closest to me have always known, and I feel ready and happy to share that with everyone now.’

The 32-year-old also praises her girlfriend, Kitty, for helping her deal with the pressures of fame.

Earps’s manager, Tina Taylor, told the BBC: ‘After the World Cup, the outpouring of love and support really showed Mary the impact she’s had, and she was deeply touched by it.

‘By sharing details of her life away from football – something she’s never done before – Mary is telling her story in her own way. It’s honest and authentic.’

Earps was encouraged and supported by her old Lionesses teammates to discuss her sexuality publicly. In the women’s game, there are more openly gay players compared to the men’s, with 40 openly lesbian or bisexual players featuring at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

The goalkeeper is widely regarded as a trailblazer for the women’s game, having been a key part of the Lionesses team that triumphed at Euro 2022, before falling short in Australia a year later.

At the end of 2023, she was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year, and in May 2024 Prince William awarded her an MBE.

Earps famously went to war with Nike over their bizarre decision not to release her No 1 shirt for general sale and forced the sportswear giants into a U-turn.

‘I’m a very ambitious person, a very hard-working person, and I think to try and push boundaries and try and be a pioneer for change, in many ways, is something that I really enjoy doing, and hopefully I can do for the rest of my career,’ she said in August last year.

‘As Lionesses, one of the things that really sets us apart from other teams is how strong we are in our values and what we stand for.’

‘Mary Earps’ courage in sharing her truth is inspiring,’ Sarah Garrett MBE, founder of the British LGBT Awards, said. ‘By being open about her relationship, she is not only celebrating who she is, but also showing women and girls everywhere that it’s okay to live authentically.

‘Her bravery on and off the pitch makes her a powerful role model. We’re proud to see her being true to herself in such a public and positive way. She is inspirational.’

All In: Football, Life and Learning to be Unapologetically Me is due for release on November 9

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