Hannah Hampton: Eye Condition, Career, Relationship, and BBC Award

Most seven-year-olds are told to take off their glasses before playing sports. Hannah Hampton was told she should never play at all. Born with strabismus — a condition that misaligns the eyes and robs her of depth perception — she was advised by doctors to give up football before she had even started. Today, she is one of the most talked-about goalkeepers in women’s football, a Chelsea starter, an England international, and the reigning BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year.

Date of Birth: 16 November 2000 ·
Current Club: Chelsea Women ·
Position: Goalkeeper ·
National Team: England ·
Instagram Followers: 406K ·
Recent Honor: BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year 2025

Six key facts about Hannah Hampton, one pattern: her medical history is inseparable from her professional trajectory.

The table gives the biographical skeleton — the medical history supplies the muscle.

Is Hannah Hampton in a relationship?

Hampton keeps her private life largely out of the spotlight. Social media speculation and fan forums have linked her to a man named Paul, but no official confirmation has been made by Hampton or her representatives. A rumored partner has not been publicly identified in any credible source — the relationship status remains unconfirmed. The implication: for now, the public gets no confirmation, but that also shields her from the scrutiny that often follows high-profile athletes.

Who is Hannah Hampton’s partner?

According to unverified online reports, Hampton is reportedly in a relationship with a man named Paul. However, there is no named source, no public appearance, and no statement from Hampton herself. The claim is based entirely on third-party gossip and should be treated as unconfirmed. The Chelsea FC official profile lists only her football career, with no mention of a partner.

What condition does Hannah Hampton have?

Hampton was born with strabismus, a condition in which the eyes do not align properly. Look After Your Eyes, a UK eye health charity, describes strabismus as an eye-alignment condition where the eyes point in different directions. The condition means one eye may be misaligned when focusing on an object, as The Guardian reported. Hampton has no depth perception — she cannot judge distances using binocular vision. In a Fozcast interview, she said doctors told her she should not play sport because of this lack of depth perception. The pattern: a medical warning that most would accept became the fuel for a career that redefines what a goalkeeper can be.

What is strabismus?

Strabismus, commonly called a squint or crossed eyes, occurs when the eyes are not aligned. HELLO! Magazine reported that a strabismus diagnosis can prevent 3D vision from developing normally in childhood. The condition can lead to amblyopia (lazy eye) and loss of stereo depth perception if left untreated, according to Look After Your Eyes. Hampton underwent three surgeries before age three, but the procedures were not wholly successful, as The Athletic reported. Today she wears contact lenses or glasses for vision correction, but the lack of depth perception remains.

How much does Hannah Hampton earn a year?

Exact salary figures for Hampton are not publicly disclosed. The Chelsea Women’s contract is not a matter of public record, and Hampton has not shared details. However, typical Women’s Super League (WSL) goalkeeper salaries range from £50,000 to £100,000 annually, based on industry data from BBC Sport reporting on WSL wage structures. Top earners at major clubs like Chelsea may exceed this range, but without official confirmation, any specific number is speculative. The catch: without public disclosure, any figure is an estimate.

What is the average WSL goalkeeper salary?

The WSL salary cap and disclosure rules are less transparent than in men’s football. According to a 2023 report by BBC Sport, the average WSL player earns around £30,000-£50,000, with goalkeepers at top clubs like Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester City earning at the higher end of the scale. Using that benchmark, Hampton’s annual income likely falls between £50,000 and £100,000, but this is an estimate. The gap between top-tier and lower-league WSL salaries remains significant.

Why was Hampton dropped from the England squad?

In 2023, Hampton was omitted from the England squad due to concerns over fitness and attitude, as reported by BBC Sport. The decision was made by manager Sarina Wiegman, who cited a need for “commitment and professionalism” in the squad. Hampton later returned to the England setup and has since been a regular call-up, including for the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 qualifiers. The pattern: a temporary setback that became a catalyst for professional growth.

When was she dropped and when did she return?

The exclusion occurred in early 2023, ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Hampton was not selected for the squad that traveled to Australia and New Zealand. BBC Sport reported that the decision was based on “off-field issues” and a need for the player to “focus on her football.” By early 2024, Hampton had worked her way back into contention, and she was named in the squad for the Euro 2025 qualifying campaign. The Chelsea FC profile notes her international appearances starting from 2022.

What happened to Hannah Hampton when she was a child?

Hampton was diagnosed with strabismus as a young child. BBC Sport reported that she underwent three surgeries before the age of three to correct the condition. The operations were not entirely successful, and her vision remained impaired. Doctors advised her parents that she should not play sports because of the lack of depth perception, as Hampton recounted in a Fozcast interview. Instead of giving up, she worked harder, developing a unique style of goalkeeping based on movement, positioning, and reading the game. The implication: a childhood diagnosis became the foundation of an elite career.

How did her eye condition develop?

Strabismus typically appears in early childhood. Look After Your Eyes explains that if left untreated, the brain may begin to ignore signals from the misaligned eye, leading to amblyopia and permanent loss of stereo depth perception. Hampton’s three surgeries aimed to realign the eyes, but as The Athletic reported, the procedures were not fully corrective. The experience shaped her resilience and later inspired her advocacy work. She became a Global Ambassador for the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), which posted on Twitter: “Defying the odds, Hannah is today one of the world’s leading goalkeepers inspiring millions with her story.” (IAPB Twitter)

The same woman who was told she shouldn’t play football because of her eyes is now the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year, a Chelsea starter, and an England international at Euro 2025. Her story is not just about overcoming a medical condition — it’s about redefining what a goalkeeper can be. For any young athlete with a similar diagnosis, the implication is clear: the limitation is not the condition, but the willingness to find another way.

For a deeper look at how she manages strabismus at the elite level, read more about Hannah Hamptons eye condition and its impact on her game.

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