Hannah Hampton has been ruled out for a few weeks after suffering a thigh injury, dealing Chelsea Women a major setback at a busy point in their season. The goalkeeper picked up the injury during last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal and was missing from the squad for Chelsea’s 6-0 Champions League win over St. Polten on Tuesday, November 11.
Chelsea head coach Sonia Bompastor confirmed that Hampton has a quad muscle problem and will be out for “a few weeks,” though she admitted that there is no guarantee the England international will return before the end of the year.
Bompastor said they will monitor her recovery closely but added that the initial signs suggest the injury may take longer than they hoped.
Impact on England’s Plans
The loss is a major blow for both club and country. Hannah Hampton is England‘s first-choice goalkeeper and is a key part of Chelsea’s squad. Her absence means she is expected to miss England’s friendly matches against China on November 29 and Ghana on December 2.
Both games are part of England’s preparations heading into a crucial 2026 calendar, where they will be aiming to secure qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, and missing Hampton will force manager Sarina Wiegman to rely on other options.
Chelsea Face a Difficult Run Without Hannah Hampton
For Chelsea, the timing could hardly be worse. The team are competing across the Women’s Super League and UEFA Women’s Champions League, and Hampton’s consistency has been a huge part of their strong start to the season.
Swiss goalkeeper Livia Peng stepped in for the midweek European match, and Bompastor confirmed she will continue to rotate her squad to manage the workload.
However, with an upcoming big game against Barcelona in the UWCL, Hampton’s absence will be deeply felt.
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Controversy Adds to a Challenging Month
Hannah Hampton’s injury also comes during a moment of heightened attention around her.
Earlier this month, comments made about her in Mary Earps’ new autobiography created controversy, leading to Bompastor publicly defending her player and calling for “more respect.”
While the situation settled down, Hampton’s strong performances for both Chelsea and England had allowed her to move forward from that episode. This injury now interrupts a period in which she appeared to be growing even more confident and settled as a top-level goalkeeper for both club and country.
Looking Ahead to Her Return
Despite the setback, Chelsea remain optimistic about their depth. Several players recently returned from injury, and Bompastor stressed that the squad must pull together during this stretch.
However, losing a goalkeeper of Hampton’s quality will inevitably be felt, especially in tight league matches and high-pressure European fixtures.
As of now, it remains unclear if Hannah Hampton will play again before the end of 2025. The club are hopeful that her recovery will progress well, but for now, both Chelsea and England must prepare for the next few weeks without one of their most reliable and important players.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Sports Press Photo
Recording Date: 08.11.2025
