Double-winners VfL Wolfsburg have come up trumps in their search for a replacement for goalkeeper Merle Frohms, who is on her way to SC Freiburg: One-time English national team goalkeeper Mary Earps makes a free transfer from English first division side Reading FC Women and has signed a one-year deal with the Lady-Wolves. And the 25 years brings along a great deal of experience to the VfL women. Since 2011, she has stood between the posts in 85 top-flight games, has been in all English sides since Under 15 level, made her ‘A’ international debut for the national team against Switzerland in June 2017and is once again part of national team coach Phil Neville’s squad for the EURO qualifier in Russia on June 8th.
"Can hardly wait"
"I am really looking forward to Wolfsburg and the opportunity to be a part of one of the best teams in the world. It’s really a dream come true! I have wanted to play in Germany since participating in a UEFA Women´s Champions League game here a few years ago. I want to continue my development with VfL and celebrate wins. I can hardly wait to get going. The team have had an unbelievable season and I want to do my all I can in helping the team enjoy such success again," explained Mary Earps, who completes the Lady-Wolves goalkeeper-quartet along with first-choice Almuth Schult, new number three Melina Loeck and Jana Burmeister.
"Fits in perfectly both sportingly as well as personally"
Although the position of reserve-keeper was initially intended to be filled from within the club’s own ranks, Ralf Kellermann is delighted about his coup. „It’s not easy to coax an internationally experienced keeper to sign for VfL, when you’ve already got one of the best goalkeepers in the world in your squad. We are very happy to have been able to convince Mary Earps to make the move. Although she is just 25, she is an experienced goalkeeper and she fits in here perfectly both sportingly as well as personally. It’s also a very different situation for her, as she was always the number one. In making the transfer, it was important for us to have the support of England’s coach Phil Neville and we firmly believe she can develop further here at the very highest level," commented the Sporting Director of women’s football with the Bundesliga champions.
VfL head-coach Stephan Lerch added: "In Mary Earps, we have boosted the team with a player of strong character. She transmits an open and positive energy – along with possessing a great deal of experience both in the English league and with the national team. She brings quality and convinced throughout last season between the posts in Reading. We are delighted that she has taken this step and opted for a move to Wolfsburg."
