England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton to join Chelsea on free transfer
WHAT HAPPENED? Various media outlets, including the Evening Standard, report that Chelsea will make Hampton their next signing for Emma Hayes’ WSL-winning team, after her contract with Villa expired. The 22-year-old has signed a three-year contract at Kingsmeadow and will hope to help the Blues win the title for a fifth successive year.
THE BIGGER PICTURE: According to the reports, Hampton will be officially unveiled as a Chelsea player in the coming days, before jetting off to Australia to take part in England’s Women’sWorld Cup campaign. She will deputise for Manchester United’s Mary Earps, who is the Lionesses’ No.1.
AND WHAT’S MORE: Hampton helped Villa to finish fifth in the Women’s Super League (WSL) table. She came through the youth ranks at rivals Birmingham City before switching to Villa Park in 2021. She’s won two England caps.
England’s Under 21s have been dealt a blow as Jacob Ramsey looks set to miss the remainder of their quest for European Championship glory.
Ramsey, the Aston Villa midfielder, has been a standout performer during England’s march to Wednesday’s semi-final against Israel.
But he hobbled out of Sunday night’s 1-0 victory over Portugal with an ankle injury after a nasty tackle and left the stadium on crutches.
Manager Lee Carsley said that Ramsey had severe numbness in his foot and ankle, with England not looking to provide him with injections for fear of exacerbating a problem.
Should the Young Lions progress beyond Israel – whom they beat in the group stage – the final will be staged against either Spain or Ukraine on Saturday. Ukraine upset favourites France 3-1 in the quarter-finals.
It is likely that Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe, who has scored twice in the tournament, will take Ramsey’s place on the left-hand side of England’s attack should the 22-year-old fail to make a swift recovery.
Meanwhile, Oliver Skipp had been expected to start during the Euros but the form of Angel Gomes and Curtis Jones has kept the Tottenham midfielder largely on the sidelines.
Keen to impress new Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou, Skipp is considering forgoing a holiday after this tournament and linking straight up with the squad as they head for Australia on pre-season tour.
‘I think there’s definitely an opportunity for me,’ Skipp said. ‘Of course I think you do need a rest but also I’ll have to see what the club’s plan for me is.
‘They’ve let me focus on the tournament first and then we’ll probably get into contact and we’ll see. It’s only a month before the Premier League starts if we do go all the way. It will be a small turnaround.
‘But sometimes it’s good to just get into it and not have so long of a build-up. I’ll be looking to get back in as soon as possible.’
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