Former England goalkeeper Mary Earps has told the BBC she "feels ready and happy to share" that she is in a same-sex relationship.
The 32-year-old has chosen to disclose details about her sexuality ahead of the upcoming publication of her memoir, in which she discusses her "really happy relationship."
The BBC understands Earps has decided to publish a statement confirming her sexuality so that it's shared on her own terms and doesn't distract from other themes in the book, including her struggles with mental health.
Her manager, Tina Taylor, said Earps hopes that being open about her life off the pitch will "inspire people around the word to find the confidence to live authentically".
Earps, who now plays her football in France for Paris Saint-Germain, exclusively told the BBC she had always tried to keep her personal life separate from her professional one, but that it would've felt "inauthentic" not to share details of something she sees as "so important to her."
