Chelsea’s Hannah Hampton has been voted the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year for 2025. She is the sixth British winner of the accolade since its inauguration in 2015.
The Player of the Match in the UEFA Women’s Euro final, Hampton finished ahead in the voting of four other women who also took part in the game – England team-mate Alessia Russo as well as Spain’s Aitana Bonmatí, Mariona Caldentey and Patri Guijarro. The five-player shortlist was selected by “an expert panel made up of current and former professionals, coaches and journalists.”
The winner of the BBC World Service award was announced on the BBC’s Newsday this morning. Hampton was presented with the award by her club coach Sonia Bompastor, and the BBC’s Maz Farookhi in a surprise ceremony at the Chelsea training ground in Cobham.
The 25-year-old goalkeeper, currently sidelined with a quad injury, said “I definitely didn’t expect it. With all the other players nominated, I think they’ve all had unbelievable years. I don’t think I did until the final moment when Sonia revealed the trophy.”
Hampton, who earlier this year was voted the first ever winner of the women’s Lev Yashin goalkeeper award at the recent Ballon D’Or ceremony, has now won a prize open to all players. At the start of the year, the Chelsea keeper was not even sure of being picked in goal for England.
Following the shock international retirement of Mary Earps, Hampton was established as the undisputed England number one going into the UEFA Women’s Euro in Switzerland. There, she excelled, as the defending European champions dramatically retained their title. Hampton saved two penalties in the quarter-final shoot-out victory over Sweden and repeated the feat in the final win against Spain.
“Winning the Euros is special. Being able to put on an England badge is a special and proud moment. You never take it for granted. Even if it’s just around the hotel and you’re wearing the kit, it’s always a lovely moment when you’ve got any sort of England badge on your chest.”
For Chelsea, Hampton has had a near perfect season, winning every domestic competition and unbeaten against English opposition throughout the entire year. She said “at club level, the season we had last year, the treble-winning season, it’s an unbelievable achievement from the club and nothing less than what they deserve.”
Hampton is the fifth English winner of the award after her current Chelsea team-mate Lucy Bronze (2018 and 2020), Beth Mead (2022) and Mary Earps (2023). After Earps, her predecessor in the England goal, Hampton is only the second keeper in history to be voted in.
While Earps has courted controversy with the publication of her recent book in which she criticised the selection of Hampton over her, her successor showed more humility in accepting the award. “Obviously goalkeeping is a position that needs a lot of resilience, it’s a lonely position, but it’s also very rewarding. You could be the hero at moments and you could also be the villain at moments. I want to achieve a lot more in the game and I can’t dwell on people’s thoughts – that’s going to hinder me, not help me.”
“The keepers before me from Carly (Telford), from Karen (Bardsley), from Mary (Earps) even before that, they’ve changed the perception of women’s goalkeeping. It’s definitely taking off and we’re trying to change the perception slowly but surely and make sure it’s being seen in the right light.”
As she handed over the accolade, Bompastor paid tribute to her goalkeeper. “Hannah’s been incredible on and off the pitch since I joined Chelsea, she has been one of our leaders, performing really well. She has been the best goalkeeper in the world and it’s a pleasure to present her with the trophy.”
Despite making the shortlist for the past three years, the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year award continues to elude Aitana Bonmatí. The winner of three successive Ballon D’Or awards and the last two Best FIFA Women’s Player of the Year trophies, Aitana has still never won the BBC vote, the only individual player prize she has never been awarded.
The BBC award has been dominated by players earning a trade in the English Women’s Super League. Only Ada Hegerberg (2017 and 2019) and last year’s winner Barbra Banda have broken that trend. The prize is voted on by visitors to the BBC website.
“Hannah’s composure, resilience, and outstanding performances on the pitch make her a truly worthy winner of this award,” said Jon Zilkha, Controller of BBC World Service English. “Each of our nominees has enjoyed an exceptional year, and together they are helping to shape the future of women’s football by inspiring players and fans around the world.”