Mary Earps Aims For Champions League With London City Lionesses

Mary Earps believes London City Lionesses can turn a strong debut Women’s Super League season into a serious Champions League push, after the former England goalkeeper signed a two-year contract on Friday as a free agent following departure from Paris Saint-Germain.

The 2025-26 campaign was London City’s first in the Women’s Super League, yet the club still achieved a sixth-place finish. That mid-table result has persuaded Earps that London City can progress quickly from consolidation to challenging the leading English sides for European qualification.

Earps explained that conversations with the London City hierarchy convinced Earps that the project matched personal ambition and long-term goals. London City’s rapid rise, combined with recent investment in the squad, has strengthened Earps’ view that Champions League football is a realistic target rather than a distant dream.

Earps said: "The more I spoke to [London City], the more I wanted to hear more, and it became a one-club race at the end. I felt really connected with them and it came down to ambitions and objectives. I'm not kidding myself that there will be things to work on but to finish mid-table in your first season I think says exactly what the club is about. I don't think climbing the table is out of the question at all, I think it's very realistic. I don't think Champions League [qualification] is that far away. I'm excited to possibly play a small part in that."

London City are shaping a squad designed to compete with established Women’s Super League teams. Grace Geyoro and Delphine Cascarino have joined from Lyon, while Spain defender Jana Fernandez has arrived to strengthen the back line around Earps as London City target higher league positions.

Key details of London City’s recent progress and recruitment underline why Champions League hopes are being discussed inside the club.

Earps previously joined PSG from Manchester United in 2024, seeking a new challenge in the French Division 1 Feminine and Champions League. The move followed a successful spell at Manchester United, and Earps viewed PSG as a step that could test ability at the top European level.

Mary Earps London City Lionesses Champions League experience

"Moving to Paris and PSG really pushed me out of my comfort zone," Earps told ESPN. "I didn't want to look back and think I was too chicken to take the chance. At the time, [PSG] had been Champions League semi-finalists. I felt like everything was going to align perfectly, you have your dreams and vision and truth be told, I had hoped we'd be a bit more competitive on the pitch but I learnt so much out there. It ticked a lot of the boxes I was looking for. I like to think I'm coming back a stronger player because of it but we'll see how the chapter unfolds. I think I'm still the same person."

Although PSG did not meet Earps’ competitive hopes, Earps believes the spell abroad improved resilience and understanding of top-level football. That experience now feeds into London City’s dressing room, where Earps is expected to provide leadership as well as stability in goal during the next phase of the club’s development.

With a sixth-place finish already achieved, several high-profile signings completed and Earps targeting another strong chapter, London City Lionesses enter the 2026-27 Women’s Super League season aiming to close the gap on England’s leading clubs and keep Champions League qualification within realistic reach.