Image Credit: Heute

Once told she would never play football because of an eye condition, Hannah Hampton has risen to become England’s No.1 goalkeeper and a two-time European champion.

After multiple unsuccessful surgeries to correct her severe eye condition known as strabismus, Hampton was told to give up sports altogether due to her impaired depth perception. But that never stopped her from chasing her dream of becoming a professional footballer. At just five years old, Hampton moved with her family to Spain, where she discovered her passion for football and was soon scouted by Villarreal’s academy.

She was not only advised against playing football but also did not initially start her career as a goalkeeper. In fact, she played at the opposite end of the pitch and returned to the West Midlands as a striker for Stoke City. 

In a moment that feels straight out of a movie, an injury to the City’s goalkeeper left a gap, and Hannah put her hand up to step in. That decision would mark the beginning of her unexpected journey between the posts. Making the moment even more Hollywood-esque, an England scout happened to be watching that very game. Impressed by her performance in goal, they encouraged Hampton to make the switch to goalkeeper a permanent one.  

Hampton has made her way across the Midlands, starting at Stoke before moving on to Birmingham City and then joining local rivals Aston Villa in 2021. She earned her first England call-up in 2020, but it was not until 2022 that she made her debut, a goalless draw that ultimately helped England win the tournament on goal difference. Hampton was part of the iconic 2022 Euros squad, where England famously lifted the trophy, with Hampton serving as understudy to Mary Earps.

But soon after, her career took a dramatic turn, one so significant that she found herself questioning whether to continue in the sport at all. The 21 year old was dropped from Sarina Wiegman’s England team in October 2022, due to personal reasons. However, The Guardian reported that Hampton was dropped from the Lionesses squad due to “issues with her behaviour and attitude”, concerns that had reportedly followed her throughout her career. Around the same period, she was also absent from Aston Villa’s lineup after the opening two games of the season, with the club citing an unspecified injury. Villa manager Carla Ward added a layer of mystery to the situation, stating that “something happened” and that it was best for Hampton to “stay at home.” 

Rumours and slander follow every footballer, no matter what decisions they make, but for Hampton, the weight of this particular controversy was especially heavy. Accusations like these, though lacking any concrete proof from journalists, have derailed careers in the past. It’s the kind of storm few are prepared for, especially at such a young age.

But where many might have crumbled, Hampton did what she had always done, she persevered. 

After being recalled to the England squad in 2023, Hampton signed with Chelsea that summer, turning down a contract extension with Villa. She made her Chelsea debut that December and quickly established herself as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper with standout performances.

Hampton’s 2024/25 season was nothing short of incredible, a testament to the years of hard work and resilience she had poured into her career. Chelsea secured the domestic treble, and Hampton capped it off by winning the Golden Glove, sharing the honour with Manchester City’s goalkeeper, Phallon Tullis-Joyce. And then came a chance to write her name in the history books. 

No player has faced more scrutiny entering this year’s Euros than Hannah Hampton.

The news that Euro winner and World Cup semi-finalist goalkeeper Mary Earps MBE was retiring from international football came as a shock to many. Earps had been a standout figure, not just for her performances on the pitch, but for the impact she had on raising the profile of women’s football in the UK, particularly shining a long-overdue spotlight on the role of female goalkeepers. 

While rumours continued to swirl around the reasons behind Earps’ retirement, with some even suggesting that Hampton was set to become the Lionesses’ first choice goalkeeper regardless, one thing was clear: Hannah was on track to be the star between the posts for England at the 2025 Euros. 

Doubt, scrutiny and rumours seemed to follow Hampton at every turn as she began to prepare the competition. But fortune favours the brave, and she proved it, emerging as a star in every sense of the word. 

While she produced solid performances in the group stages, it was the quarter-final which saw Hampton take all the glory. A bloody nose, penalty shoot-out and an England win – what many coined a proper English performance, scrappy but victorious. She was hailed as the penalty queen who kept England in the competition, but this was no one off; Hannah has been instrumental in England’s journey to winning the tournament. 

In the semi-finals, England faced a tough battle, trailing 1-0 until the 96th minute. While the spotlight was not on Hampton, she made crucial saves that helped secure England’s place in another final.

This final saw England do what they do best: come back. Down 1-0 until the 57th minute, the Lionesses fought back to force penalties once again. It was Hannah Hampton’s time to shine, and shine she did.

Hampton saved Caldentey and two time Ballon D’or winner Bonmati’s penalties in the shoot-out, securing victory for England. She played a major role in making history for England, a moment that would not have been possible without her, a truly special player. Hannah later revealed in an interview that she had to ask the fans behind her what it meant if Chloe Kelly scored her penalty because she was so focused on making her own saves. 

Even more remarkably, Hampton revealed that her grandfather passed away just two days before the tournament began, describing him as her “biggest supporter.” As if she hadn’t already shown enough bravery throughout the tournament, this only cemented her status as a true hero.

From being dropped by England in 2022 and ridiculed days before they travelled to Switzerland to being the nation’s saviour. Her journey is an age-old reminder of how perseverance can turn doubt into glory. We hear of stories like this so often, but when you truly pause and reflect on her journey, you realise just how extraordinary human resilience can be. 

So as you watch the glory and celebration, the heartbreak and despair that football always brings, remember it all started with that little girl who fought against every odds to become a Lioness.

Hannah Hampton, get used to hearing the name.