Nike to sell Manchester United goalkeeper Mary Earps England jerseys in U-turn

Nike is to start selling replica England goalkeeper jerseys, including those of Mary Earps, after pushback against the manufacturer’s initial decision not to do so during the Women’s World Cup.

Fans were left aggrieved with being unable to purchase a replica jersey of the Manchester United star, which led to a petition signed by more than 150,000 people that called for Nike to reverse its stance.

World Cup Golden Glove winner and 2022 Fifa Women’s Best Goalkeeper Earps herself voiced her frustration over the matter, after England captain Millie Bright had tried to buy a goalkeeper jersey for her niece only to find that she was available to do so.

"I can’t really sugar-coat this in any way, so I am not going to try - it is hugely disappointing and very hurtful," Earps said ahead of England’s opening game against Haiti.

READ MORE: Mary Earps hits back at Nike statement

"My shirt on the Manchester United website was sold out last season. It was the third-best-selling shirt, so who says it is not selling? It is the young kids I am most concerned about.

“They are going to say, ‘Mum, Dad, can I have a Mary Earps shirt?’ and they say, ‘I can’t, but I can get you an Alessia Russo 23 or a Rachel Daly 9.’ What you are saying is that goalkeeping isn’t important, but you can be a striker if you want."

In an email sent to the New York Times on Wednesday, Nike said it was due to sell a limited number of England goalkeeper jerseys in the near future, although did not specify how many would be available.

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