In a night of history-making at the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris, Chelsea’s Hannah Hampton became the first woman ever to win the Yashin Trophy, bestowed on the world’s best goalkeeper. Her triumph marks not only personal glory, but a symbolic breakthrough for women’s goalkeeping on the global stage.
Chelsea officially confirmed her win, noting she beat out the likes of Ann-Katrin Berger, Cata Coll, Chiamaka Nnadozie, and Daphne van Domselaar for the inaugural Women’s Yashin Trophy. Hampton’s award caps off a c – both for club and country.
Let’s take a closer look at the life, rise, and landmark achievements of the woman now forever etched in footballing history.
From Birmingham to the Big Stage
Born in Birmingham in November 2000, Hampton spent part of her childhood in Spain, where she played as a youth at Villarreal. She later joined Stoke City’s youth setup before moving into Birmingham City’s system.
Hampton was born with strabismus, an eye-alignment condition. As a child, she underwent multiple operations, and some doubted whether her eye condition might limit her sporting prospects. But she persisted, adapting her game and sharpening her instincts. In fact, she has spoken openly about how that adversity shaped her mindset and resilience.
Her senior career began at Birmingham City (2017–2021), where she made around 50 appearances and earned internal accolades like Young Player of the Season. She moved to Aston Villa (2021–2023) and then signed with Chelsea in 2023 on a multi-year deal.
A Season for the Ages: 2024/25 & Euro 2025
Hampton was central to Chelsea’s unbelievably dominant campaign. The Blues went unbeaten domestically and secured the treble: Women’s Super League, FA Cup, and League Cup.
In the league, she was ever-present – starting every match and racking up 13 clean sheets. Her performances even earned her the WSL Golden Glove in the 2024/25 season.
While her club form was elite, it was on the international stage that Hampton’s star truly exploded. With Mary Earps having retired from international duty just before the 2025 Women’s Euros, Hampton was elevated to England’s No. 1.
Throughout the tournament, she produced a series of clutch performances:
- In the quarter-finals vs Sweden, she made saves during regulation and extra time, then delivered in the penalty shootout.
- In the final vs Spain, she again stood firm in the shootout, denying Mariona Caldentey and three-time Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati.
- Her save percentage over the tournament peaked among all goalkeepers (70.8%) – a key stat in her Women’s Yashin Trophy case.
- She was also named Player of the Match in the Euro 2025 final, and the best goalkeeper of the tournament.
Her consistency, composure under pressure, and shot-stopping in key moments made her indispensable in England’s back-to-back European championship win.
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Why Hannah Hampton First Woman To Win the Yashin Trophy Matters
2025 marks the first year the Yashin Trophy has been extended to women, making Hampton’s win a historic milestone. She didn’t just win it – she earned it in the most emphatic way possible.
Her victory sends a powerful signal: women’s goalkeepers now command the same recognition at the highest levels as their male counterparts.
In winning the Women’s Yashin Trophy, Chelsea‘s Hannah Hampton finished ahead of several established names: Ann-Katrin Berger (Germany), Cata Coll (Spain), Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria), and Daphne van Domselaar (Netherlands).
This underlines how exceptional her campaign was – she wasn’t merely favoured by sentiment, but earned votes on the basis of outstanding performance.
In her acceptance speech, Hampton was quick to credit the milestone as one for women’s goalkeeping, not just for herself. She said, “I don’t think it’s an achievement for me, I think it’s an achievement for women’s goalkeeping.”
Her recognition may inspire a new generation of young goalkeepers – girls who now see that the highest accolades are within their reach.
What’s Next for Chelsea’s Record-Setter
At just 24, Hampton’s peak years are still ahead of her. She’ll enter future seasons with the pressure of expectation but also the confidence of a proven winner.
Chelsea and England will lean on her heavily – and after setting this benchmark, the challenge is now to maintain and elevate.
Can she defend the Women’s Yashin Trophy? Can she help Chelsea and the Lionesses chase more silverware? Time will tell, but the trajectory is clear.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / PRESSE SPORTS
Recording Date: 22.09.2025