Fran Kirby has announced her retirement from international football – only two days before the Lionesses’ Euro 2025 squad will be confirmed on Thursday.

The 31-year-old Brighton midfielder was omitted from Sarina Wiegman’s matchday squad for Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat in Spain, and told her team-mates she was retiring with immediate effect after the game.

Wiegman told her she was unlikely to make the Euro 2025 squad unless one of her team-mates got injured before Thursday’s deadline – which Kirby said made her realise she had “outstayed her welcome” on the international stage.

She ends her Lionesses career with 77 caps and 19 goals, having represented England at four major tournaments including every match of the victorious Euro 2022 campaign.

Speaking to ESPN, Kirby said: “When I had the conversation with Sarina and she laid her plans out for the Euros and she told me I wasn’t going unless someone got injured, I knew it was the moment where I’d outstayed my welcome.

“I don’t want to take the opportunity away from someone who can learn [and which can] then set them up for the future.

“I’m not embarrassed by this at all. I gave absolutely everything at the beginning of the year, I’ve given everything my whole career and I’m okay with Sarina’s decision because at the end of the day – it just wasn’t enough. I’m okay with that as I know I gave absolutely everything.”

More to follow…