Love Island viewers are convinced they have uncovered the identity of contestant Priya's celebrity ex-boyfriend, with many pointing to Chinese Super League defender Tyias Browning.
Revelation from 'Never Have I Ever' Game
During Monday's episode (June 22) of the ITV dating show's 13th series, Islanders played a revealing round of 'Never Have I Ever.' The game featured statements such as 'Never have I ever had more than ten people on my roster' and 'Never have I ever been tempted by another Islander.' When the question 'Never have I ever dated a celebrity' was posed, several contestants took a drink, including Jasmine, Angelista, Sean, Mica, and Priya.
Jasmine admitted her ex was a Premier League footballer but declined to give details. Sean mentioned his former partner was a singer, while Mica said she had been linked to NFL stars and footballers. Angelista revealed she had dated footballers from the Premier League and Championship. However, Priya's disclosure sparked the most curiosity.
Priya's Cryptic Clues
When pressed about her ex, Priya refused to name him but said, 'I don't know, he played in Shanghai. No, he was from Manchester.' This led fans to speculate on social media. One user posted, 'Finding out Priya dated Jesse Lingard' with crying face emojis. Another wrote, 'Shanghai plus Manchester. Only leads to Jesse Lingard.'
However, Lingard, born in Warrington, spent most of his career at Manchester United but never played for a Chinese club. He featured in a match in Shanghai but was never contracted there. This led fans to suggest Tyias Browning instead.
Evidence Points to Tyias Browning
Browning, 32, was born in Liverpool and started his career at Everton, making seven senior appearances. He spent a year on loan at Wigan, located in Greater Manchester, which could explain Priya's comment about him being 'from Manchester.' Crucially, Browning has played for Chinese Super League side Shanghai Port since 2022 and represents the China national team through his maternal grandfather.
Further evidence emerged when a fan noted that Browning follows Priya on Instagram. 'It's most likely a player called Tyias Browning. Lingard never played in Shanghai and Browning follows Priya on Instagram,' they explained.
Love Island continues tonight at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
