"I have made the difficult decision to quit the national team. It has been the greatest honor and utmost privilege of my life to wear the emblem and represent my country", writes Mary Earps on Instagram.
The Paris Saint-Germain star has made 53 A-international appearances, was named the tournament's best goalkeeper when England won the World Championship silver in 2023 and was also a key player when the English women's national team won the European Championship gold on home soil the year before.
The news that she will not be available for this summer's European Championship, less than a month away, comes unexpectedly. England's national team coach Sarina Wiegman has been alternating between her different goalkeeper options in recent months, but has often given Chelsea's Hannah Hampton the trust.
"I had hoped that Mary would play an important role in the squad this summer, so it's clear that I'm disappointed. But Mary has been clear about why she's made this decision and we have to accept it", says Wiegman in a statement.
Neither Wiegman nor Mary Earps, who made her first A-international appearance in 2017, goes into details about what lies behind the decision.
"There are so many dimensions to this decision, but the details aren't important right now. It's ultimately about it being the right time for me to step aside", writes Earps.
