MANCHESTER UNITED midfielder Ella Toone made headlines with her bold claim that Sweden should “fear” England at Euro 2025 – but now she’s got even bigger news to celebrate.
The Lionesses star has just got engaged to footballer boyfriend Joe Bunney, sparking congratulations from fellow sports stars across social media.
Who is Ella Toone’s partner Joe Bunney?
Ella, 25, is now engaged to Joe Bunney, 31, a non-league footballer who plays for Stalybridge Celtic.
The pair make quite the contrast when it comes to football allegiances – Joe is famously a devoted Manchester City fan, while Ella represents their bitter rivals, Manchester United.
Despite the club rivalry, Joe has always been Ella’s “biggest cheerleader,” with sources previously telling The Sun the couple are “very much in love”
Bunney, who has two children from a previous relationship, carved out his own football career in the lower leagues after spells with various clubs, including Bolton Wanderers.
When did Ella Toone and Joe Bunney get engaged?
The engagement news broke on August 9, 2025, with football social media accounts sharing congratulatory messages for the newly-engaged couple.
Toone’s fellow sportswomen flooded the comments of Ella’s Instagram announcement with well-wishers such as @keirawalsh1 h and @carlytelford1 writing messages: “Woooo congrats buzzing for you both ❤️❤️”, and “🥺❤️ congrats guys xxx”.
The engagement comes at a particularly emotional time for Ella, who recently revealed her beloved grandmother “Nana Maz” passed away on the day of the Euro 2025 final.
How did Ella Toone and Joe Bunney meet?
The couple have been together for several years after being introduced through mutual friends in Manchester, hailing from the same city, they bonded over their shared love of football, even if they support different teams.
Those close to the pair have described them as “the perfect pairing,” with Joe consistently supporting Ella’s England career despite his City loyalties.
What about Joe Bunney’s legal troubles?
Joe made headlines earlier this year for all the wrong reasons when Coronation Street actor Ryan Prescott launched a £60,000 libel lawsuit against him.
The dispute stems from Joe’s social media posts where he branded the soap star “disgusting” over a rental property disagreement.
Joe claimed Ryan Prescott and his partner Amy Lythgoe were “squatting” in a flat he rented to them, alleging the tenancy had expired and he needed the property for his widowed grandfather.
Ryan and Amy deny the claims and are pursuing legal action, stating Joe’s widely-circulated social media posts had a “devastating impact” on their reputations.
The legal battle continues as the couple celebrate their engagement and Ella focuses on her England duties at Euro 2025.”
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