We're well into wedding season in the UK and it's clear that love is in the air for Manchester's footballers. A number of Manchester City and Manchester United stars have either popped the big question to their girlfriends or have tied the knot in recent weeks.
With the World Cup taking place this winter in Qatar, it seems more Premier League players have been getting married than in seasons before, while others have chosen to make things more official with their long-term girlfriends ahead of the huge tournament.
So who are the new brides and brides-to-be of the Manchester footballing world? Here, we take a look.
READ MORE: Restaurants, bars and takeaways where you are most likely to bump into a Manchester City player
Ines Degener Tomaz
Manchester City's Bernardo Silva, 27, popped the question to his model girlfriend Ines Degener Tomaz, 22, three weeks ago. Announcing the news on Instagram, Ines wrote: "Forever YES!!!! My endless love" alongside a snap of the pair cuddled up, showing off her dazzling engagement ring.
Later, the midfielder wrote on his account: "Thank you for all the messages we received these last few days! We are very happy (John doesn’t look but he is!!)" with a photo of the couple and their pooch. The bride-to-be has been dating the football star since 2020.
Their romance blossomed during the coronavirus lockdowns when they were isolated together in his hometown of Lisbon.
Fern Hawkins
Manchester United captain Harry Maguire, 29, officially tied the knot with his long-term partner Fern Hawkins, 27, in a small ceremony in Crewe last month. They are reportedly due to host a large wedding ceremony in France in the coming months in a romantic chateau.
The childhood sweethearts started dating when they were teenagers - when Fern was 16 and Harry was 18, playing for Sheffield United's youth team. 10 years later, Harry popped the big question in Paris in 2018.
The happy couple, who have been together for more than a decade, share two daughters - Lillie Saint, two, and Piper Rose, one. Fern, has a Bachelor’s degree in science and physiotherapy, graduating in 2017 with a First Class Honours, the Mirror reports.
She regularly gives updates to her 800,000 Instagram followers, where she shares cute snaps of her and Harry, along with their two children.
Lucia Loi
Manchester United star Marcus Rashford last month announced that he is set to marry his long-term girlfriend, Lucia Loi. The young couple shared a romantic snap on Instagram to capture their engagement, with them kissing in front of a love-heart made up of cream roses, surrounded by candles and sparklers.
The newly-engaged couple has been together for eight years. Marcus and Lucia, both 24, met while they were at school together at Ashton on Mersey School and started dating when they were 15.
They briefly split in 2021, the Mirror reports, but reconciled in the following months, getting back together around Christmas time. The pair haven't spoken publicly about their relationship, but 16 weeks ago, Marcus shared a collection of sweet snaps together on Instagram, writing: "Through thick & thin".
Lucia, who isn't very active on Instagram, is a University of Manchester advertising and brand management graduate. She currently works as an account executive for a Manchester-based PR agency.
Sara Arfaoui Gündogan
Manchester City midfielder İlkay Gündoğan and model wife Sara Arfaoui Gündogan are currently relaxing on their honeymoon in Bodrum, Turkey. Just last week, the happy couple tied the knot in a large Italian ceremony with friends and family.
They wrote on Instagram together: "Still dreaming…. my endless love". However they officially married in a discreet ceremony just before City's triumph in the Premier League. Posting a series of pictures to his Instagram from Copenhagen, including one of his new wife wearing an ivory blazer and holding a bouquet of flowers on a private jet, the 31-year-old wrote: "We are married... we are really happy … can’t wait to celebrate with our families and friends".
İlkay proposed to Sara - who was born in France but moved to Italy when she was young - last Christmas with an extravagant display of his love. The room where he popped the question was filled with red roses and red love heart balloons.
The Italian TV presenter shared a video of the moment, captioning it: "Yes yes yes .. you are my best friend .. my everything .. I can’t believe this is real .. thank you for your love ..".
Kaylee Ramman
Manchester City defender Nathan Aké married his childhood sweetheart Kaylee Ramman just days ago. The pair tied the knot during a lavish beach ceremony in Majorca.
On Tuesday, Kaylee, who runs her own sustainable swimwear company, shared a series of snaps on Instagram of their special day, showcasing her beautiful backless dress. The couple, both in white, said their vows before a grand Baroque pavilion, adorned with white roses and boasting spectacular views.
Also sharing the stunning photos online, Nathan, 27, announced to his 1.1m followers: "Mr & Mrs Aké".
READ NEXT:
- ITV Love Island make major announcement about series
- ITV Coronation Street's Charlie De Melo announces first role since quitting soap
- ITV This Morning fans point out issue with Sugababes reunion as Siobhan, Mutya and Keisha make appearance
-
Two-day beer party with street food and live music returns to Manchester this weekend
-
Sacha Lord launches free drinks ‘happy hour’ across Manchester over the summer
