Rio Ferdinand has announced his latest gig after leaving TNT Sports at the end of the previous football season. The ex-Manchester United star, whose last match with TNT Sports was at the 2025 Champions League final between Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain, left the broadcaster after a 10-year stint.
It hasn’t taken Ferdinand long to announce a new move though, with the former defender taking to social media to tell his 11.6million X followers about his latest endeavour. He said: “Next stop, Bangkok… I’m heading to the EA SPORTS FC Mobile Festival Bangkok — where passion, skill, and football culture collide!”
The event is described as a meeting of “the best FC Mobile competitors from across Asia and the Middle East, global football icons, top influencers,” and will see “passionate fans unite for the EA SPORTS FC Mobile Festival, Bangkok — a two-day unmissable event presented by Visa, happening June 14–15 at BCC Hall, Central Ladprao in Bangkok, Thailand.”
It was reported at the time that Ferdinand turned down a contract extension at TNT Sports, suggesting the split between the pair was amicable and he wasn’t forced out. Speaking at the time of his exit, Ferdinand said in a statement: “Since retiring from football, it has been a privilege talking about the game I love for a decade.
“I want to acknowledge the tremendous support from the team behind the scenes, whose hard work often goes unseen but has been essential to our success. As I turn the page to the next chapter, I carry with me countless memories. I am excited about what the future holds - spending more time with my family, focusing on Rio Ferdinand Presents and my other business interests.”
Ferdinand does have several business interests away from punditry, with the ex-England international’s YouTube channel boasting 1.32m subscribers. His clothing line, FIVE, also has a collaboration with retailer Sports Direct. Elsewhere, his management company, New Era, has signed a partnership with Beverly Hills-based talent agency giants William Morris Endeavor (WME).
What’s more, it’s been reported that Ferdinand could be plotting a move to Dubai with wife Kate. The pair met on holiday in 2016 and have reportedly already looked at properties and schools in the United Arab Emirates city. They have two young daughters with each other, while Rio has three children from his previous marriage.