Maya Jama and Ruben Dias have been left shaken after burglars targeted their £4 million Cheshire home while both were away for work.
The television presenter, 31, and the Manchester City defender, 28, were not at their Alderley Edge property when the break-in occurred on Wednesday evening.
Ms Jama was in South Africa presenting Love Island: All Stars at the time, while Mr Dias was in Turkey representing Manchester City in their clash against Galatasaray.
The Portuguese centre-back is understood to have discovered the burglary upon returning home later that night, finding the property ransacked.
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Maya Jama and Ruben Dias' Cheshire home was targeted
| GETTYCheshire Police confirmed officers were called to the address shortly after 11.10 pm on January 28, where they found forced entry and evidence that multiple items had been stolen.
A spokesperson said: "Shortly after 11.10pm on Wednesday, January 28, police received reports of a burglary at an address in Alderley Edge.
"Officers attended and found entry had been made to the property, and a number of items had been stolen. Enquiries are currently ongoing."
The thieves reportedly escaped with a haul worth thousands of pounds, including designer clothing, jewellery, and electronic devices.
Ruben and Maya weren't in the property at the time
| PAThe four-bedroom mansion spans around 6,300 square feet and boasts landscaped gardens, panoramic views, and a luxury indoor leisure suite.
Despite the presence of a sophisticated security system, intruders were still able to gain access.
The incident is said to have been particularly upsetting for the couple, as the house was their first shared home and held deep personal significance.
They had only moved in shortly before Christmas.
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Maya Jama is currently in South Africa to film Love Island: All Stars
|A source told The Sun: "They are devastated. The house is the first they have moved into as a couple and is very special to them. Thankfully, neither was at home, but they are very upset that their personal space has been invaded."
The insider added that Ms Jama had been especially proud of establishing their first joint residence, having previously divided her time between London, while Mr Dias lived in a city-centre flat.
She had documented the move on social media, sharing videos and photographs of the property.
The burglary is the latest in a concerning trend of crimes targeting Premier League footballers in Cheshire’s so-called Golden Triangle.
Man City star Ruben Dias was playing in Turkey at the time of the incident
| GETTYSeveral of Mr Dias’s current and former Manchester City teammates have previously been targeted, including Jack Grealish, Raheem Sterling, and Riyad Mahrez.
The affluent area, which includes Alderley Edge, Prestbury, and Wilmslow, has long attracted wealthy footballers.
Prestbury’s Withinlee Road reportedly has the highest average house prices in northern England at £1.2 million, while one Alderley Edge property was previously listed for £15 million.
Past and present residents of the area have included Sir David Beckham and Victoria Beckham, Wayne Rooney and Coleen Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kyle Walker, and Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk.
Mr Grealish previously spoke about the impact of his own Boxing Day 2023 burglary, when jewellery worth £1 million was stolen from his Chelford mansion while family members were inside watching him play on television.
In an Instagram post, he wrote: "I can't begin to explain how devastated I am over the burglary that took place at my home a few days ago.
"My family mean the world to me and nothing is more important than ensuring their safety. This has been a traumatic experience for all of us."
For Ms Jama, the break-in comes after she had spoken proudly about her property journey, having grown up in a council house in Bath before going on to purchase homes in London, Cheshire and the Cotswolds.