Hector Bellerin will line up against his former club Arsenal when Real Betis face the Gunners in a pre-season friendly. The Spanish defender, once a cult hero in north London, has built a life both on and off the pitch that sets him apart from the typical modern footballer.
Arsenal Exit and Move to Spain
Bellerin joined Arsenal as a 16-year-old from Barcelona's La Masia academy in 2011 and spent over a decade at the club. He broke into the first team in 2014 and became the Gunners' first-choice right back, lifting three FA Cups. However, by the early 2020s, he felt it was time for a new challenge.
His agent, Albert Botines, revealed that isolation during the Covid-19 pandemic, being cut off from his family in Spain, was a major factor in his decision to leave Arsenal and England.
"After 10 years, Hector had in his mind that it was the right time to change," Botines said. "But it wasn't only about Arsenal, it was also about the Premier League, about the country, about everything."
Bellerin spent the 2021/22 season on loan at Real Betis, his father's boyhood club, before joining Barcelona on a free transfer. His second spell at the Nou Camp lasted just half a season, followed by a move to Sporting CP, and then a return to Real Betis, where he has found stability.
Club Ownership and Environmentalism
In 2020, Bellerin became the second-largest shareholder in Forest Green Rovers, a club known for its environmental ethos. The club went fully vegan in 2015 and boasts a carbon-neutral footprint, aligning with Bellerin's own passion for sustainability.
His dedication was recognised with the BBC Green Sport Award. "I feel very grateful. It is totally unexpected," Bellerin said. "I've been doing this stuff for a very long time, talking about sustainability not just in sport but in our everyday life."
Bellerin revealed he wears second-hand clothes and shoes to live sustainably. "I feel with power comes responsibility. Every time someone puts a microphone next to you, there's a chance to talk about issues, to generate conversation," he said.
Dating Love Island Star
Bellerin previously dated Jasmine Muller, who appeared on the 2026 series of ITV's Love Island. The pair were reportedly an item between 2021 and 2022. Muller insisted there is no bad blood between them, saying they parted on "really good terms" and still have love for each other.
"I have nothing bad to say about him and him the same for me," she said. "But it is so long ago that it's not something I think about on a daily."
