Netflix viewers are divided over a recently added dating reality show featuring the famous ex of a Selling Sunset star.
The programme, Love Undercover, only arrived on the streaming platform in the past few days, despite originally airing in 2024 on America's Peacock network.
The format centres on a small group of British, European and South American footballers who are brought together in a house in the United States with the goal of finding romance. The synopsis explains: "Pro athletes have it all: extreme wealth, adoring fans, lavish lifestyles. Fame and fortune can come at the price of true love.
"For them, finding someone who loves them for who they truly are, not what they have, is harder than going pro. The ballers decide to leave it all behind for the one place on Earth that truly values what's on the inside: Los Angeles. In this modern-day fairytale meets buddy comedy, these five international soccer stars travel to America in hopes of finding true love with women unsuspecting of their status.
Jamie O'Hara in Love Undercover
Ex-Premier League midfielder Jamie O'Hara also stars in the series(Image: Peacock)
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"The ballers quickly learn that at Players HQ, the women have possession, and egos get bruised as the athletes find that without soccer, it's harder to score. If they find true love, they must reveal their identity to their partner."
While the footballers are meant to be incognito in the States, at least one of them may be recognisable to a UK audience. Among them is Mexican legend Marco Fabian, an Olympic gold medallist at London 2012 who, at 36, now plays indoor football in the US, reports the Mirror.
Also in the mix is fellow Mexican Sebastián Fassi, a goalkeeper in Spain's third-tier league, and former Premier League midfielder turned radio pundit Jamie O'Hara. There's also ex-Liverpool star and Dutch international Ryan Babel, who last played in Turkey before hanging up his boots in November 2024, complete the line-up. Plus current Championship side Charlton's defender Lloyd Jones who started his youth career with the reds.
Early on in the show, while discussing their past relationships, Babel discloses that he was once romantically linked with Selling Sunset star, Amanza Smith. However, it appears that viewers are divided over the show's success.
There aren't many reviews for the show available online, but one Netflix viewer who stumbled upon the title posted on social media: "Just discovered Love Undercover on Netflix, the most cringe and awkward show ever. I usually like a good trash tv show, but this is such a car crash!"
Ryan Babel in Love Undercover
Former LFC star Ryan Babel appears in the show(Image: Netflix)
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They weren't alone, with some people criticising the casting for the show, pointing out the oddity of the premise being women dating an international footballer, yet only two are still actively playing the sport.
However, some viewers do suggest giving the series a chance, with one person stating: "If that's your thing, Love Undercover is a fun and surprisingly funny spin on the genre."
Another viewer revealed it was the first reality programme they had ever watched and added: "This was a fun concept so I tried it and then loved it and couldn't stop watching. The genuineness of the guys and some of the girls was lovely to watch, it was a refresher of my own dating mistakes and I really loved watching and hope there's a Season 2."
Meanwhile, one viewer remarked: "It's kind of interesting to watch. I actually think the show did a great job with their choice of players. They chose a couple of lower tier 'face' men as eye candy, and 3 players of notable acclaim if you've been an American fan of soccer for 10 yrs or more. Any more famous and they would've been much more recognisable in LA."