Lucy Hope has played her last game. The Everton Women midfielder confirmed on June 5 that she is retiring from professional football, ending a seven-year spell on Merseyside that made her one of the club's most reliable figures.
With her contract due to expire later this month, Hope decided against extending her career elsewhere and instead chose to step away from the game. For a player who spent seven seasons in blue, the announcement felt less like an ending and more like a farewell to a club she helped shape.
Why Lucy Hope Chose To Retire At 29
At 29, Hope's retirement was not a sudden decision. After marrying her partner Scott in 2022 and welcoming their son, Jensen Jordan, last year, she stepped away from football for a period before deciding to bring her playing career to an end.
Hope described her retirement as a closing chapter she's proud of. "I'm incredibly grateful to have crossed paths with so many amazing people throughout my journey," she wrote.
She did not shy away from where the journey began, either. "In some ways, my story will be similar to many others, trying to make it to the top from a council estate. But, in another sense, it is uniquely my own," Hope said.
"Only I wore the boots, put in the hours, and played every minute required to reach the level I did."
What Lucy Hope Said About Leaving Everton Behind
Hope made it clear that the fans were a huge part of what made her time at the club so special. "I have loved my time at Everton," she said. "The club and the city have become my home over the best part of a decade."
She spoke about what football gave her beyond results on the pitch. "The biggest thing football gave me was a place that felt like home, somewhere I felt comfortable enough to put roots down. First, a dog, then I became a wife to my amazing husband, and now to welcome our son into the family means more to me than any statistic ever could."
To supporters specifically, Hope said: "Hearing the chants, feeling your backing on matchdays, and knowing how much you cared always gave me that extra push. Those moments and memories will stay with me forever, and I’ll never take that support for granted."
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The Tribute From Teammates, Coaches And Everton Fans
Hope’s retirement did not go unnoticed inside or outside the dressing room.
Everton Women released a video featuring past and current teammates paying tribute to Hope, while former Scotland captain Rachel Corsie, current Scotland international Martha Thomas, ex-Everton and England forward Toni Duggan, and her former coach Brian Sorensen all shared their own messages
Even former UFC fighter turned boxer Molly McCann, a vocal Everton supporter, thanked Hope publicly for "everything you've done for our club."
Hope also dedicated her career to her late mother, Ruth, who passed away in 2017, writing: "Thank you to my family and friends, whose unwavering belief gave me the courage to chase and live my dream. Thank you to every club, coach, member of staff, and teammate who helped shape my career and made teams feel like family, and dressing rooms feel like home."
What Lucy Hope's Retirement Means For Everton Women Going Forward
Hope played under three different permanent coaches during her time at Everton, along with three interim bosses, a reminder of just how much change she navigated while remaining one of the squad's most consistent figures.
Everton described Hope as a “versatile and reliable” player who “operated in a number of positions and roles.” Her retirement now leaves a noticeable gap in experience and leadership, with the club facing the task of replacing her influence both on and off the pitch ahead of next season.
Watching a senior teammate leave with that level of warmth, fans singing her praises, coaches past and present paying tribute, and the club producing a video in her honour says a lot about her place in the squad.
In women’s football, where careers are still evolving in real time, how a player leaves the game can carry as much weight as how she played it.
Hope’s final words reflected that bond with the club’s supporters: “I am very proud of what I have achieved at Everton. I have given it my all from the day I arrived and will always be grateful to have lived this dream.”
