Inside the life of England star Ella Toone and her non-league footballer boyfriend who awkwardly supports her rivals
WHEN ELLA Toone takes to the field for the Lionesses at the Women’s World Cup, expect no one to cheer louder than supportive boyfriend, Joe Bunney.
However, when it comes to club football – Joe supports the Man Utd star’s bitter rivals.
Bunney, 29, is a non-league footballer, who stars for Stalybridge Celtic.
He’s also a devout Manchester City fan, who was spotted cheering on Pep Guardiola’s side in the Champions League final.
Her job and his love of City makes for an awkward romance.
How they met
Ella and Joe kept their romance largely out of the limelight.
But when the 23-year-old became a Euros winner in 2022, they were catapulted to fame.
They reportedly met through mutual pals, and were spotted enjoying a romantic break away in Ibiza shortly after she tasted success at Wembley.
A source told The Sun: “Ella and Joe are very much in love and have been together for a while now. They are both from Manchester and have mutual friends who introduced them.
“Those who know them think they are the perfect pairing. Joe is Ella’s biggest cheerleader and he could not have been more proud to watch her lifting the trophy at the Euros.”
The source added: “They keep their love life out of the spotlight usually but Joe couldn’t resist joining Ella in Ibiza to celebrate with her.”
Both footballers
Not only do they share a Manchester connection, the pair understand each other’s business.
They are both footballers. Joe, who has two children from a previous relationship has played for clubs, including Rochdale and Northampton Town.
Primarily a left-sided defender, this month he signed for Stalybridge Celtic, following loan spells at Ashton United and Marine last season.
Attacking midfielder Toone began her career with Blackburn Rovers, before she had a short spell at Man City.
In 2018, she moved to the club she supported all her life – Man Utd.
She has since become one of the leading lights of WSL, as well as an England international.
Her fame has usurped his, as she once revealed whenever she goes to his games she is asked for autographs.
Ella told The Times: “Whenever I go to Joe’s games, the amount of lads who come over to me is mad and that is what really makes me smile.
“I stand there a lot of the time with my hood up, trying to watch, but they’ll say, ‘Are you Ella Toone of United? Can I have a picture?’
“Obviously, the boost for young girls who want to play football over the last year has been brilliant and we will always keep fighting for them.
“Joe’s pathway was not easy. It’s hard to have a professional career as a man because there are so many boys who want to play.
“But I definitely think young women will have to fight harder and so for young lads to recognise that women can play is amazing. It was funny.
“There were so many people who were hanging around outside at 11pm the other night. I said, ‘Come on. You’ve got school in the morning. Then one girl said, ‘It’s only French!’ I said, ‘Ok, leave it then’ and we had a photo.”
Rivalry
Although they are supportive towards each other when it comes to their careers, when it comes to their footballing allegiances… well, it’s awkward.
While Ella is a Man Utd hero, Joe is a Man City super fan.
The 6ft5in lad travelled to Istanbul with his pals to cheer on Pep Guardiola’s side clinch a historic treble.
Joe snapped a photo with his mates with the Atatürk Olympic Stadium pitch in the background, as City’s stars lifted the trophy,
He captioned the photo: “WOW .. TREBLE SCENESSSSS !! WE DID IT .. What A Team ”
Earlier in the season, Bunney also made his BBC Manchester debut co-commentating on a City game at the Etihad.
He shared the moment on Instagram with a video, which drew comment from Toone.
She wrote: “Smashed it ! Proud of you ”
However, you can be sure she wasn’t cheering on the Cityzens.