Hannah Hampton: From Vision Challenges to European Championship Glory

Rising to International Stardom

England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton has been named Player of the Match in the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 final, following England’s penalty shoot-out victory against Spain. Her tournament performance was exceptional, preventing more expected goals than any other goalkeeper while creating four chances for her teammates and completing 15 passes into the final third – the highest among all goalkeepers.

Overcoming Early Challenges

Hampton’s success is particularly remarkable given that doctors initially advised against her playing sports due to vision issues, specifically her lack of depth perception. Medical professionals warned her parents that she wouldn’t be able to judge balls coming towards her, making sports potentially dangerous.

Club Success and National Team Rise

After joining Chelsea, Hampton quickly established herself as first-choice goalkeeper, earning praise for her performances. In the 2024-25 season, she kept 13 clean sheets in 22 league appearances as Chelsea became the first WSL team to complete an unbeaten season. Her excellence was recognized as she shared the season’s Golden Glove award with Manchester United’s Phallon Tullis-Joyce.

Euro 2025 Triumph

Hampton played every minute of England’s victorious Euro 2025 campaign, with particularly outstanding performances in the knockout stages. Against Sweden in the quarter-finals, she kept England in the tournament with crucial saves when trailing 2-0, followed by two penalty saves in the shoot-out. In the final against Spain, she delivered another flawless performance, making vital saves in regular time before stopping penalties from Mariona Caldentey and Aitana Bonmat.

Future Prospects

Looking ahead in 2025, Hampton is expected to take on even more crucial roles for both Chelsea and the national team. Her unique combination of experience, youth, and determination positions her to be a cornerstone of English women’s football for the next decade.