Love Island star's secret connection to previous finalist is revealed ahead of their arrival in the villa

Daily Mail​

3 days ago

Love Island has confirmed the full line-up of contestants set to enter the villa for the 12th series on June 9, for another season of love triangles, bedroom trysts and messy breakups.
After joining the popular dating series in January 2023, Maya Jama will once again be at the helm, as the ITV2 show celebrates a decade on screens and promises to have 'more twists and turns than ever before' in honour of the anniversary.
This year's crop of hopefuls include a Declan Rice body double, a firebreather and a Maura Higgins lookalike.
But one of the new Islanders may have an edge on his fellow castmates, as he boasts a connection to a previous finalist.
According to The Sun, Dejon Noel-Williams is pals with 2023 star Tyrique Hyde, who made it all the way to the final with then-girlfriend Ella Thomas.
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Dejon, who plays football semi-professionally alongside his job as a personal trainer, is also the son of former Premier League striker Gifton.
Ex-Watford and Stoke striker Gifton, 45, began his professional football career in 1996 and last played for Codicote in 2017 before retiring.
And during his time at Watford from 1996 to 2003, he was teammates with none other than Micah Hyde, who is the father of Tyrique.
The two stars played together at the club and looked to have been good friends, with their sons Dejon and Tyrique being the same age.
The two boys also both followed in their fathers' footsteps by becoming footballers themselves.
And in his role as a personal trainer, Dejon also counts Tyrique as one of his clients, with the duo often sharing videos of them working out at the gym together.
Ahead of his villa entrance, Dejon revealed that he 'met all kinds of famous people' because of his footballing father and even remarked on a meeting with David Beckham.
He said: 'When I was younger it was weird because he was just my dad, but we'd go to a game and fans were asking for photos. I've met David Beckham, he was really nice.'
Dejon, from London, boasts 11,000 followers on social media thanks in part to his regular shirtless gym snaps and in 2021, represented the Grenada national football team.
His bio reads: 'I go beyond the gym -helping you build Strength, Confidence & Discipline for life.'
Asked what he was looking for in a girl in the villa, he said he wanted someone who 'is beautiful on the inside and out, looks after themselves and is healthy'.
Tyrique shot to fame on the 2023 series with his romance with Ella being heavily tested with some dramatic ups and downs.
They exited the villa together, but shortly after announced they'd split in November 2023, before trying to give it another go.
But, in February 2024, MailOnline exclusively revealed Ella and Tyrique had parted ways permanently - after six months as a couple.
A source told MailOnline: 'Ella and Tyrique have decided it's time to go their separate ways.
'They have such love for each other, but they often struggle to get along and as viewers saw in the villa, they're always arguing.'
Tyrique and Ella exited the villa together, but shortly after announced they'd split in November 2023, before trying to give it another go, before parting ways permanently in February last year (pictured in September 2023)
Meanwhile, Dejon is not the only footballing connection in the upcoming series, as fans of the lower leagues may have spotted a star dubbed 'The Surrey Zidane'.
Harry Cooksley, 29, is a midfielder for Southern League Premier South side Farnham Town, while also working as a gold trader and model.
But more interestingly, his pastimes include being a body double for Arsenal and England star Declan Rice.
Harry revealed: 'So when he does a shoot, any body close ups will actually be me. You'll never see my face, but you'll see my shoulder or chest, that kind of thing.'
NAME: Sophie Lee
AGE: 29
FROM: Manchester
OCCUPATION: Motivational Speaker and Author
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Someone who is fun, spontaneous, who has a lot of jokes and who is attentive. At the moment I'm only finding ones draped in red flags and 'do not cross' signs
IF YOU WERE THE CEO OF SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE? I'm the CEO of empowerment. I want women to feel beautiful and validated in themselves and feel their best self.
NAME: Dejon Noel Williams
AGE: 26
FROM: London
OCCUPATION: Semi-pro footballer and personal trainer
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Someone who is beautiful on the inside and out, looks after themselves and is healthy
CLAIM TO FAME? My dad being an ex-professional footballer. I've met all kinds of famous people through him. When I was younger it was weird because he was just my dad, but we'd go to a game and fans were asking for photos. I've met David Beckham, he was really nice.
Megan Moore
NAME: Megan Moore
AGE: 25
FROM: Southampton
OCCUPATION: Payroll specialist
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? I'd like to meet someone who is tall, with a nice tan, nice eyes and a nice smile. He needs to have a good fashion sense and a really good, funny personality that I can get on with
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR LOVE LIFE? Bankrupt, right now. But we're going to make sales and get on that corporate ladder and be booming. Profits, profits, profits!
NAME: Tommy Bradley
AGE: 22
FROM: Hertfordshire
OCCUPATION: Landscape Gardener
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? A girl who is very ambitious, with a big personality, caring, but also someone that doesn't take themselves too seriously. I don't know if that's asking for too much, but I want a bit of everything. I haven't got a specific type in terms of looks, though.
WHAT WOULD YOU BE CEO OF? Taking hours to do my hair
NAME: Alima Gagio
AGE: 23
FROM: Glasgow
OCCUPATION: Wealth Management Client Services Executive
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? A tall man with a handsome face. You know when you just look at a guy and they have that Disney prince look to them? That's it
WOULD MAYA HIER YOU FOR YOUR FLIRTING SKILLS? I think she'd hire me because I'm a good flirt. I always ask guys on a night out to guess which country I'm originally from. If they get it right, they can get my number.
But they never guess correctly so it works really well if you don't want to give a guy your number. I'm originally from Guinea Bissau. If they're close and I really fancy them, I'll give them my number anyway.
NAME: Ben Holbrough
AGE: 23
FROM: Gloucester
OCCUPATION: Private Hire Taxi driver
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? A tall man with a handsome face. You know when you just look at a guy and they have that Disney prince look to them? That's it
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR LOVE LIFE? Bankrupt. I'd have been out of business a long time ago. That's exactly why I'm here.
NAME: Helena Ford
AGE: 29
FROM: London
OCCUPATION: Cabin Crew
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Somebody funny or Northern. I feel like Northern people have much more banter than Southerners. If you look through my previous dating history, you'll see I clearly go for personality. You can pretty much laugh me into bed.
WOULD MAYA HIER YOU FOR YOUR FLIRTING SKILLS? I would say hire but then quickly fire soon after. It would only be a temporary contract.
NAME: Kyle Ashman
AGE: 23
FROM: Stafford
OCCUPATION: Water operative
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Someone that's fun, confident and just themselves.
WOULD MAYA HIER YOU FOR YOUR FLIRTING SKILLS? I'd say I'd be hired. I just go with it, find something to compliment a girl on and go from there.
NAME: Megan Moore
AGE: 24
FROM: Dublin
OCCUPATION: Musical theatre performer and energy broker
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
Someone who doesn't take themselves too seriously and has a sense of humour. If they're not bad looking, that's always a plus.
I love a boy that's a bit pasty, like Timothé e Chalamet. I don't mind scrawny, or a bit of a 'dad bod'. I'm 5ft1 so any height really.
CLAIM TO FAME? Me and my friends made a Derry Girls TikTok for Halloween and it went a bit viral around Brighton.
Sometimes I get stopped in the street about it. I've also done Panto.
NAME: Blu Chegini
AGE: 26
FROM: London
OCCUPATION: Construction Project Manager
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
Someone who is family oriented, has a lot of love to give and a lot of love to receive. Personality goes a long way.
WOULD MAYA HIER YOU FOR YOUR FLIRTING SKILLS? She¿d fire me, but I¿ve got the charm to smooth things over with a girl. The fact I speak fluent Spanish comes in handy when it comes to flirting!
NAME: Shakira Khan
AGE: 26
FROM: London
OCCUPATION: Construction Project Manager
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Someone who is tall, charming, witty, with big arms, a good smile and just really funny.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR LOVE LIFE? Booming¿ but they¿re all frogs. It¿s a busy love life but I¿ve not found ¿the husband¿. I¿m looking for ¿the one¿. I¿m looking for the ring.
NAME: Harry Cooksley
AGE: 30
FROM: Guildford
OCCUPATION: Gold trader, semi-professional footballer and model
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? The girl next door that makes me laugh and can hold eye contact with me. I don¿t think I¿d go for the most obvious girl, I like a real sweet girl.
CLAIM TO FAME? I¿m the body double for Declan Rice. So when he does a shoot, any body close ups will actually be me. You¿ll never see my face, but you¿ll see my shoulder or chest, that kind of thing.