Jermain Defoe and Donna Tierney’s Relationship Timeline: From Whirlwind Romance to Breakup

Ex-England footballer Jermain Defoe has reportedly split from his wife just months after their £200,000 wedding.

The former Spurs and West Ham star, who wed just over six months ago, spent his Christmases on the Caribbean island of St Lucia while his wife Donna stayed at home Glasgow.

Defoe, 40, was recently pictured without his wedding ring, while Donna has gone back to using her maiden name, Tierney, online.

The 40-year-old has also unfollowed her husband on social media and the two haven’t posted about each other in more than eight weeks.

They both have pictures on Instagram of the OK! Magazine cover showing their wedding last June.

MailOnline takes a look back at their whirlwind romance, from meeting in January 2021 to their split just two years later.

Split: Ex-English footballer Jermain Defoe has reportedly split from his wife just months after their £200,000 wedding

FIRST MEETING

Jermain met the Scottish beautician by “liking” her pictures on social media.

They first met in person at a charity event in January 2021, where she asked him for a shirt autograph.

Jermain said: “We met years ago when I was playing for Sunderland and I messaged her on Instagram. I sent her DM. We had a general chat, but hadn’t spoken to each other in ages.

“When I first started playing for Rangers in 2019 I remembered Donna was from Glasgow and touched her again – I kept looking at her sexy pics on Instagram.

Couple: Jermain met the Scottish beautician by ‘liking’ her pictures on social media.

“But we only met in January 2021 when Donna asked if I could give her a signed football shirt for a charity event.”

Just seven months later, he got on one knee and proposed to Donna at a £2,500-a-night Glasgow hotel decorated with bright ‘Marry Me’ letters and rose petals.

A source told the Daily Record at the time: “Donna was so thrilled with the effort that Jermain made. It was so romantic.

“Signing for Rangers has proven to be the best decision he’s ever made. Not only did he win the championship title, but he found the woman of his dreams. They are both over the moon.”

Proposal: In August, the then-Rangers striker got on one knee and proposed to the Scottish beautician at the £2,500-a-night Blythswood Square Hotel, which was adorned with bright ‘Marry Me’ letters and rose petals

MARRIAGE

The couple then married in June this year in a £200,000 ceremony at Cliveden House.

The 250 guests included Tottenham first-team assistant manager Ledley King, former West Ham player Carlton Cole-turned TalkSport pundit and former Manchester City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips.

The bride looked incredible in a plunging white gown with lace sleeves, topped off with a long veil.

She carried a bouquet of pink roses while her new husband looked dapper in a cream jacket, waistcoat and bow tie.

Celebrations: The couple then married in June this year in a £200,000 ceremony at Cliveden House (Donna with her hen).

The 45 minute ceremony took place in a beautiful flower garden at the famous Cliveden estate whilst the reception featured a stunning light show in the sky above the grounds.

A source told The Sun: “Donna looked beautiful. And Jermain looked like the cat that got the cream. It was a happy day full of celebration and joy.”

Jermain said OK! Magazine: “This is my future, this is forever, this is the person I want to spend the rest of my life with.”

On June 21, he posted online: “Dedicating my entire life to Donna Defoe has been one of the easiest things I’ve ever done and I can’t wait to live a life of love and happiness.

Loved: Donna said OK! Magazine on how friends shared how obvious it was that Jermain appreciated her through ‘his special’ wedding speech and the way he treated their 12-year-old daughter Olivia (pictured)

“Our wedding was like a movie and I thank God for blessing us both with such a special day with family and friends who mean the world to us.”

Donna said OK! Magazine about how friends shared how obvious it was that Jermain appreciated her through “his special” wedding speech and the way he treated their 12-year-old daughter Olivia.

Donna said: “Everyone always talks about how special Jermain’s speech was.

“They said it shows how much he appreciates me. The part that got me was when he was talking about my daughter who means the world to me.

“It made me feel very special. My daughter loves Jermain so much, he is such a good stepfather. He is great.

“I couldn’t have asked for or wished for anything better than the way he treats Olivia.”

MARRIAGE PROBLEMS

Radio Silence: Jermain only posted pictures of himself with no wedding ring and no mention of his wife

A source told the Sun: “The marriage appears to be in trouble. You’d think they’d want to spend their first Christmas as husband and wife, but they didn’t, so it doesn’t look good at all.’

There has been a noticeable silence for almost two months.

Jermain only posted pictures of himself without his wedding ring and with no mention of his wife.

Posting only pictures of herself and her family, Donna wished her 8,000 followers: “All the love and happiness in the world,” below a picture of her 12-year-old daughter unwrapping Christmas presents.

Donna suggested in an Instagram story that she’s glad to see 2022 behind her — and “looking ahead” to the new year.

allegations of fraud

The Sun on Sunday revealed Jermain asked a nurse for sex just a month after his wedding.

Jermain is said to have reached out to a woman via Instagram last year and invited her to join him in his Range Rover just weeks after his wedding in June – although the sportsman denied any wrongdoing at the time.

By July 14, Jermain had reportedly already started texting another woman and later tried to arrange a meeting.

The Sun said the woman, whose name has not been released, met the footballer at a bar years ago but they hadn’t spoken to each other in ages.

She said: “Then in July he started texting me on Instagram. He really wanted to meet me and we flirted a lot.

“Then when I realized he was married, I didn’t want it to go any further.”

The woman said she didn’t think it would have been fair to his wife and questioned why he would be looking for another wife “so soon” after his marriage.

He began texting the woman in July, eventually asking her to meet up in his Range Rover for a romp, calling her “babe” in voice memos.

She added, “Our messages were a bit fun at the time, but there was no point in continuing them.”

Jermain has previously been at the center of cheating rumors, including about his ex Alexandra Burke.

In 2017 he was accused of wrecking radio host Ben Weston’s marriage months after he bought his shop assistant Sally a hot tub.

Allegations: The Sun on Sunday revealed that Jermain asked a nurse for sex just a month after his wedding