The long-term romantic partner and fiancé of England Lionesses and Manchester United star Ella Toone is Joe Bunney, a professional and non-league English footballer. The high-profile sporting couple first crossed paths through mutual friends in 2022 and quickly bonded over their shared passion for football and their deep roots in Northwest England. Despite playing for competing tiers and supporting rival clubs—with Bunney being a devoted Manchester City supporter and Toone starring as an iconic attacking midfielder for Manchester United—the pair have built a highly supportive relationship that balances public stardom with private stability. After three years of dating, their relationship reached a major milestone in August 2025 when Bunney proposed during a romantic post-tournament holiday in Ibiza, Spain.
In this definitive profile, you will explore the full narrative surrounding Ella Toone and her fiancé, Joe Bunney, charting their individual career paths and public lives. We will detail Bunney’s extensive professional football history across the English Football League (EFL), examine their high-profile engagement timeline, and look at how they balance rival football allegiances within one household. Furthermore, this article provides exclusive insight into their collaborative business ventures, community projects, and the unique realities of navigating media spotlight as an elite British sporting power couple.
The Identity of Joe Bunney
Joe Bunney is an established English footballer born on September 26, 1993, in Gorton, Manchester, making him six years senior to Ella Toone. Standing at a commanding 6 feet 1 inch tall, Bunney has carved out a highly versatile career across both the professional rungs of the English Football League (EFL) and the physical landscapes of non-league football. Over his extensive sporting journey, he has adapted from playing as an athletic left-sided forward early in his youth to operating primarily as a robust left-back or central defender in his later career chapters. This innate tactical adaptability has allowed him to accumulate hundreds of senior match appearances across a variety of traditional English football divisions.
Bunney’s professional breakthrough came with Rochdale AFC, where he signed in 2013 after showcasing exceptional goalscoring instincts in non-league circles with teams like Lancaster City. He went on to make over 120 senior league appearances for Rochdale, playing a foundational role in helping the club maintain a competitive standing in EFL League One. His strong performances caught the attention of Northampton Town, who secured his transfer in January 2018. Over the subsequent seasons, Bunney expanded his professional resume through stints and loan spells at historic clubs including Blackpool, Rochdale, and Bolton Wanderers, developing a reputation as a highly dependable and physical left-sided utility player.
Following his years in the professional league tiers, Bunney transitioned into the highly competitive non-league ecosystem of northern England, where he continues to balance his active playing days with technical coaching. He has lent his experience to prominent semi-professional outfits such as Macclesfield FC, Ashton United, Marine, and Stalybridge Celtic. This extensive grassroots football journey gives him a deep, first-hand understanding of the daily physical and psychological demands of professional sport, creating a strong foundation of mutual understanding that helps him support Toone through the intense pressures of international women’s football.
Relationship Timeline and Milestones
The romantic connection between Ella Toone and Joe Bunney began in early 2022, a transformative year for women’s football in the United Kingdom. Introduced through mutual friends within the tight-knit Northwest England footballing community, the pair formed an instant bond based on shared regional humor, working-class roots, and identical daily training schedules. They chose to keep the initial months of their relationship relatively private, allowing their connection to grow away from public scrutiny while Toone prepared for the life-changing UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 tournament on home soil.
Following the Lionesses’ historic Euro 2022 victory at Wembley Stadium—where Toone scored a legendary opening goal in the final against Germany—the couple enjoyed their first major public holiday together on the Balearic island of Ibiza. This trip marked a shift toward greater public visibility, with both athletes sharing lighthearted, affectionate glimpses of their life together on Instagram and TikTok. As Toone’s global fame surged following her key performances at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and the UEFA Euro 2025 tournament in Switzerland, Bunney remained a constant source of support, frequently seen cheering her on from the family stands at both Old Trafford and Wembley.
The definitive highlight of their relationship timeline arrived on August 4, 2025, immediately following England’s Euro 2025 title defense in Switzerland. Returning to their favorite holiday destination of Ibiza, Bunney organized a stunning, surprise sunset proposal framed by a large heart-shaped arrangement of white flowers overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Joined by Bunney’s young son, Arlo, from a previous relationship, Toone accepted the proposal, later sharing the milestone with millions of fans online via a joint post captioned simply: “Forever 04/08/25.” The announcement drew widespread celebrations from across the football world, with close friends and Lioness teammates like Alessia Russo and Leah Williamson flooding the comments with public messages of joy.
Balancing Club Rivalries and Media
One of the most fascinating and widely discussed dynamics of Ella Toone and Joe Bunney’s relationship is their stark domestic club rivalry. Bunney is a lifelong, passionate supporter of Manchester City, having grown up in the heart of the city during the club’s dramatic rise to global prominence. Conversely, Toone is an iconic figurehead for Manchester United Women, having supported the Red Devils since childhood and cementing her legacy by scoring Manchester United’s first-ever competitive goal in the Women’s Super League (WSL). This creates a unique household dynamic where Manchester’s fiercest football dividing lines coexist under one roof.
Despite this deep club division, the couple handles the rivalry with plenty of lighthearted humor, mutual respect, and clear boundaries. Bunney regularly puts aside his club allegiances to attend Manchester United matches, sitting proudly in the player-companion lounges to support Toone’s individual career goals. Similarly, Toone frequently spends her rare days off sitting in the stands at damp non-league grounds across Greater Manchester, quietly supporting Bunney during his matches for semi-professional clubs. This mutual support is highly valued by both players, providing a lighthearted escape from the intense, tribal pressures of elite modern football.
Navigating the Public Eye: “Joe has been my absolute rock off the pitch. He understands the crazy highs and lows of this game because he lives it himself. Even if he’s wearing the wrong shade of Manchester blue, he’s always the first person cheering for me when the whistle blows.” — Ella Toone, Loose Women Interview (September 2025)
Navigating public media attention presents another unique challenge that the couple manages with careful strategy. As women’s football experiences unprecedented commercial growth, Toone has evolved into a mainstream British celebrity, often mobbed by fans for autographs and photos during casual dates at local coffee shops. Bunney has handled this shift with great maturity, often taking on the role of an impromptu photographer for fans while ensuring Toone maintains healthy personal boundaries. By showcasing their relationship through honest YouTube vlogs and lighthearted social media updates, they have successfully controlled their public narrative, building an authentic brand that highlights their grounded, down-to-earth personalities.
Professional Career Comparison
To appreciate the unique balance within this sporting partnership, it is helpful to look at the professional trajectories, career achievements, and athletic backgrounds of both individuals.
| Metric / Detail | Ella Toone | Joe Bunney |
| Date of Birth | September 2, 1999 | September 26, 1993 |
| Primary Position | Attacking Midfielder / Forward | Left-Back / Left-Winger / Center-Back |
| Current Club Status | Manchester United Women (WSL) | Non-League / Academy Coach |
| Major Career Highs | UEFA Women’s Euro Winner (2022, 2025) | Over 120 Senior EFL Appearances (Rochdale) |
| International Honors | 100+ Senior Caps (England Lionesses) | England C Representative Horizons |
| Youth Academy Roots | Manchester United / Blackburn Rovers | Stockport County / Rochdale |
| Signature Style | Creative playmaker, long-range shooting | Physical defender, aerial power, crossing |
Business Ventures and Academies
Beyond their active playing careers on the pitch, Ella Toone and Joe Bunney have pooled their sports expertise to build sustainable commercial ventures aimed at empowering the next generation of British athletes. Their premier joint project is the ET7 Football Academy, an elite youth training initiative founded in Greater Manchester. Drawing on Toone’s experience as an international champion and Bunney’s extensive background as a certified UEFA-qualified coach, the academy provides elite technical training, tactical workshops, and mentoring sessions for aspiring young boys and girls across Northwest England.
Within the academy’s infrastructure, Bunney plays an active, hands-on role as a head director of coaching and player development. He designs specialized training curriculums that mirror the intense physical demands of the modern professional game, helping young players refine their tactical positioning, first-touch mechanics, and core athletic agility. Toone uses her global platform to inspire students, dropping into sessions to lead tactical masterclasses, share elite mental preparation strategies, and provide direct guidance on navigating the modern sports landscape. This complementary division of labor has helped ET7 grow from a local community workshop into a highly respected regional sports academy.
Additionally, the couple has leveraged their digital platforms to secure high-profile commercial brand partnerships with global giants like Nike, EA Sports, and major British lifestyle brands. They frequently appear together in marketing campaigns that celebrate authentic football culture, active living, and the everyday realities of modern athlete relationships. By channeling their commercial earnings back into local grassroots facilities, equipment donations, and subsidized training scholarships, Toone and Bunney have established themselves as dedicated community advocates, committed to breaking down socio-economic barriers for young children entering the sport across Manchester.
Shared Personal Life and Support
The foundation of Ella Toone and Joe Bunney’s relationship is built on a shared working-class heritage and a deep appreciation for family life in the Northwest of England. Both grew up in close-knit communities within Greater Manchester, allowing them to remain deeply connected to their lifelong friends and extended families despite their busy professional schedules. They currently share a home in Manchester, designed as a peaceful, relaxing sanctuary away from the intense media spotlight of the Women’s Super League and international tournament cycles.
Their domestic life is enriched by a shared dedication to co-parenting Bunney’s young son, Arlo. Toone has embraced her role in Arlo’s life with immense warmth, frequently sharing photos of fun family days out at local theme parks, holiday gatherings, and casual garden football sessions. This strong family bond provided vital emotional support for Toone during a challenging 2024 and 2025, a period she described as a time of intense emotional “highs and lows” due to the heartbreaking loss of both her beloved father and grandmother within a 13-month window. During this difficult time, Bunney’s presence helped her process her grief while continuing to perform at the highest level for club and country.
In their rare moments of downtime, the couple enjoys simple, everyday activities that help them step away from the pressures of elite sport. They are frequent visitors to local Manchester restaurants, enjoy taking long walks with their dogs through the scenic Cheshire countryside, and often share lighthearted cooking challenges on Toone’s popular YouTube channel. This balance of elite athletic drive and a grounded, peaceful home life has allowed their relationship to thrive, showing that genuine personal stability off the pitch is often the secret fuel behind history-making success on it.
Practical Information and Planning
Finding ET7 Academy Sessions
For parents and young athletes looking to join training sessions or attend public community events hosted by Ella Toone and Joe Bunney, several helpful operational channels are available:
Regional Training Facilities: The ET7 Football Academy runs its weekly technical sessions across premium astroturf facilities in Greater Manchester, including core sports hubs in Tyldesley, Wigan, and central Manchester locations.
Booking Open Academy Slots: Parents can review upcoming seasonal schedules, check age-group openings, and book technical training slots directly through the official ET7 Academy portal or verified social channels. Prices range from £15 for standard group sessions to custom rates for advanced masterclasses.
Public Community Tournaments: During the summer off-season months (typically June and July), the academy hosts large grassroots football tournaments and charity match days, offering young fans an interactive opportunity to win signed gear and meet coaching staff.
Fan Etiquette and Matchday Access
If you are planning to attend matches or hope to get an autograph or photo with the couple during their professional events, please keep these practical guidelines in means:
Matchday Seating Access: To catch Toone in action, tickets for Manchester United Women fixtures at Leigh Sports Village or Old Trafford must be purchased in advance via the official Manchester United ticketing office. To support Bunney, fans can attend weekend non-league matches across the Northern Premier League network, with tickets easily available at stadium turnstiles.
Respecting Personal Space: While both players are incredibly welcoming and love interacting with fans, supporters are kindly asked to respect their privacy during private dinners, family outings with Arlo, or moments of quiet family time.
Official Signing Zones: The best, safest opportunity to secure authentic autographs or photos is within the designated post-match signing zones located near the player tunnels at official WSL and England international fixtures.
FAQs
Who is Ella Toone’s partner?
Ella Toone’s partner and fiancé is Joe Bunney, a professional and non-league English footballer. Born in Manchester, Bunney has enjoyed a long career as a versatile left-back and forward across the English Football League (EFL), playing for historic clubs like Rochdale, Northampton Town, and Bolton Wanderers. The couple has been together since early 2022 and officially announced their engagement in August 2025.
Are Ella Toone and Joe Bunney engaged?
Yes, Ella Toone and Joe Bunney are officially engaged. Bunney proposed on August 4, 2025, during a romantic summer holiday on the Balearic island of Ibiza, Spain, shortly after Toone helped the England Lionesses secure their second consecutive European Championship title. The couple shared their happy news via a joint social media post showing the beautiful sunset proposal.
What team does Joe Bunney play for?
Joe Bunney currently plays for semi-professional clubs within the English non-league system, most recently representing Stalybridge Celtic in the Northern Premier League network. Alongside his active playing career, Bunney is a fully certified, UEFA-qualified football coach who spends a significant amount of time managing technical training programs for young athletes.
How did Ella Toone and her partner meet?
Ella Toone and Joe Bunney first met in early 2022 through mutual friends within the Northwest England footballing community. They hit it off instantly due to their shared working-class backgrounds, identical regional humor, and mutual understanding of the intense daily demands of life as professional athletes.
Does Joe Bunney have children?
Yes, Joe Bunney has two children from a previous relationship, including his young son, Arlo. Arlo maintains a close relationship with both his father and Toone, often joining the couple on family holidays, attending major tournament matches, and appearing in their milestone family photos, including the 2025 Ibiza engagement.
Which football club does Joe Bunney support?
Joe Bunney is a lifelong, passionate supporter of Manchester City. This creates a fun, lighthearted rivalry within their home, as his fiancée, Ella Toone, is a childhood supporter and star player for their cross-town rivals, Manchester United. Despite this dividing line, Bunney is a constant fixture in the stands supporting Toone’s career.
What is the ET7 Football Academy?
The ET7 Football Academy is a youth training initiative co-founded by Ella Toone and Joe Bunney in Greater Manchester. The academy combines Bunney’s expertise as a UEFA-qualified tactical coach with Toone’s experience as an international champion, offering high-quality technical drills, mentoring, and support for aspiring young footballers.
How long have Ella Toone and Joe Bunney been together?
As of mid-2026, Ella Toone and Joe Bunney have been together for over four years. They began dating in early 2022, navigated the immense public spotlight of Toone’s historic Euro 2022 and 2023 World Cup campaigns, and recently celebrated their engagement in August 2025.
What position does Ella Toone’s partner play?
Joe Bunney is a highly versatile utility player who can operate comfortably in several key positions on the pitch. While he began his early career as an attacking left-winger and striker, he transitioned over the years into a defensive specialist, playing primarily as a left-back or central defender.
Does Joe Bunney appear on Ella Toone’s YouTube channel?
Yes, Joe Bunney makes regular, highly popular appearances on Ella Toone’s official YouTube channel. He frequently features in casual lifestyle vlogs, behind-the-scenes holiday diaries, and lighthearted couple’s challenges, giving fans an authentic, down-to-earth look at their lives away from the pitch.
Where did Joe Bunney propose to Ella Toone?
Joe Bunney proposed to Ella Toone on the idyllic island of Ibiza, Spain. The romantic moment took place at sunset on August 4, 2025, against a beautiful Mediterranean backdrop. Ibiza holds a special place in the couple’s hearts, as it has been their favorite destination for relaxing summer holidays since they first began dating.
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