Man City star Ruben Dias has shed light on his 'very normal' relationship with Love Island host Maya Jama after the pair confirmed their romance this summer
Maya Jama and Rúben Dias
Ruben Dias breaks silence on 'normal' Maya Jama romance and shares key concern
(Image: Instagram @rubendias)
Rúben Dias has opened up for the first time about his relationship with Maya Jama, offering a rare glimpse into how the couple balance their private lives amid the constant glare of fame.
The Manchester City defender, 28, and the Love Island host, 31, have been quietly dating for months, although their romance became public in June when Maya shared a photo on Instagram hinting at their relationship. Since then, the pair have kept things relatively low-key, despite the intense interest from fans.
In a new interview with The Telegraph, Dias has explained how the couple manage the pressure that comes with being in the public eye. Speaking about his romance with Maya, the footballer said: "No, I think that's the last thing you think about,” he said when asked if the attention ever becomes a concern.
"We are just both aware of it and there's no way around it. But at the end of the day, you don't make it about it. You make it about everything else and then that's an extra you have to deal with and, obviously, be smart with it."
Over the summer, the couple were spotted holidaying together on a luxury yacht in Capri, looking more loved-up than ever as they sipped morning coffee and soaked in the Italian sun. However, despite the headlines, Dias insists that fame doesn’t interfere with their day-to-day happiness as he admits that he and Maya are the perfect fit for one another.
Maya and Reuben have been dating since the start of the year
Maya and Reuben have been dating since the start of the year
(Image: rubendias/instagram)
"I feel like I'm a much more relaxed person when I get home," he said. "I love to go to a park. I love nature. I love to go for a walk. Obviously, sometimes, I can't really go for a big hike because I need to rest. I love dogs. I love movies. I love music. I love to go to a nice concert."
Unlike many public figures who avoid being seen in everyday places, Dias says he refuses to hide from normality just because he is a professional football player with a celebrity status.
"I will not stop myself using restaurants or go normal shopping. I'll go to a Co-op, whatever. I'll go to a mall if I want. Whatever I need. I mean as normal as I can get, I'll go everywhere," he insisted.
Maya Jama Love Island finale
The footballer is completely smitten with Maya(Image: Maya Jama/Instagram)
While the footballer seems unfazed by the spotlight, he acknowledged it can be more difficult for Maya, especially as a successful woman constantly under public scrutiny.
Speaking about his girlfriend Maya, the footballer said: "I think in a way, maybe she would like to avoid certain kinds of situations just to be more comfortable, also being a woman," he said. "It's obviously more difficult to tell someone to stop if they're being rude. And I've kind of got an easier way to do it myself."
Dias insist that the smitten couple are committed to maintaining a normal life together, regardless of the attention.
Maya has shared snaps from the couple's exotic getaways
Maya has shared snaps from the couple's exotic getaways
Speculation over Maya dating Ruben first started to circulate on News Year's Eve in December last year. And this came after the pair bumped into each other at the MTV Europe Music Awards, in Manchester in November.
Their meeting came just few months after her second public split with rapper Stormzy. Maya and the rapper first started dating in 2014 and their relationship lasted five years before their first break-up.
However, on reflection on what ultimately led to their split, Maya said in an interview: "We were so young when we met, just beginning our careers. I was starting at MTV. He'd not even released a single at that point. We were just little babies."
The couple went Instagram official this summer
The couple went Instagram official this summer
At the time Stormzy had even hinted that marriage was on the cards during an interview in 2018 with the Sunday Mirror. He said at the time: "I’m still so young but I want to propose, it’s going to happen and I will do it right. She is so sick, she is the best."
Years later, the pair reunited and tried for a second time to make their relationship work but to no avail. Sadly, thew couple called time on their romance in July 2024.
Sharing a joint statement, it read: "We tried and it didn't work and that's okay."