Fans of Lioness goalkeeper Mary Earps will finally be able to buy a replica of her goalie shirt, as Nike has confirmed that it will now be selling “limited quantities” of the much sought-after kit.
The England goalkeeper saved a crucial penalty in the World Cup Final, when the Lionesses went head-to-head with Spain. While England lost the game 1-0, Earps was awarded the competition’s Golden Glove award.
Pressure has been mounting on Nike throughout the tournament to sell a replica of the Mary Earps shirt. After the final, the company issued a statement, saying: “We hear and understand the desire for a retail version of a goalkeeper jersey and we are working towards solutions for future tournaments.”
Earps, who has been dubbed “Mary Queen of Stops”, has previously described the decision as “very hurtful”. She posted the statement on her Instagram account, with the caption: “@Nike is this your version of an apology/taking accountability/a powerful statement of intent?”
Nike has since made a u-turn on its decision. In a statement to The New York Times, it said: “Nike has secured limited quantities of goalkeeper jerseys for England, U.S., France and the Netherlands to be sold through the federation websites over the coming days, and we are also in conversations with our other federation partners.”
The statement continued to say that Nike is “committed to retailing women’s goalkeeping jerseys for major tournaments in the future”. The company did not say how many shirts would be available to purchase or when they would go on sale.
The move comes after a Change.org petition calling on Nike to sell Earps’ shirt received more than 150,000 signatures.
Earlier this year, the Lioness goalkeeper, who also plays for Manchester United, was named the best Women’s Goalkeeper by FIFA.
