Manchester United outcast Jadon Sancho has all but confirmed his relationship with American rapper Saweetie by inking her name on his skin.
The 25-year-old was pictured alongside the Billboard star at the California-based Apollo Tattoo and Piercing Studio. Images from the shop’s Instagram account also showed that the England star had added the word Qiava – Saweetie’s middle name – to his neck behind his left ear.
Sancho also had a previous tattoo on his hand which read ‘her only’ covered up with a colourful flower arrangement. It is not clear who that former flame was.
The winger fuelled romance rumours in May when it was reported that Saweetie, real name Diamonté Quiava Valentin Harper, had pride of place as his phone’s lock screen photograph.
Sancho was celebrating Chelsea’s Europa Conference League final win on Wednesday night and held his phone aloft as he made merry with Trevoh Chalobah.
Eagle-eyed fans spotted the picture of Saweetie, 32, on his phone and the speculation about his love life has been rife ever since.
Famed California-based tattoo studio The Apollo revealed that they had inked Saweetie’s middle name on Jadon Sancho’s neck
The 25-year-old also got a tattoo on his hand that read ‘her only’ removed during the session
The shop also posted an image of the couple alongside one another in their California studio
Adding fuel to the fire is the fact that the duo shared a hug at Stamford Bridge earlier this season.
Sancho’s latest body art comes as he inches closer to a departure from the Red Devils amid interest from Serie A side Roma.
Roma have made an attempt to sign the winger on a season-long loan as they look to secure a deal before the closure of the transfer window .
As first reported in Daily Mail’s Transfer Confidential column on Tuesday, the Italians are the latest to discuss a potential loan and option to buy for the England international but United only want a permanent sale for the 25-year-old.
Sancho has been frozen out at United and isn’t part of Ruben Amorim ‘s plans at Old Trafford.
His issues in Manchester began after falling out of favour at United on the back of a public fallout with former manager Erik ten Hag.
Ten Hag had criticised Sancho’s performances in training after he was left out of a squad to face Arsenal in 2023, with the player branding the words ‘completely untrue’ in a social media post that was later deleted.
The situation resulted in Ten Hag demanding an apology, and Sancho refusing to give one – he did not play for the Dutchman again and went on loan to Chelsea after a brief spell at former club Borussia Dortmund.
The pair have been rumoured to be dating for a few months after it was revealed that the rapper was Sancho’s lock screen photo
The Blues had the chance to sign him permanently for £25million this summer – a fraction of the £73m United had paid four years prior. They instead, though, opted to pay £5m to cancel a deal.
Commenting on the four remaining members of the Red Devils’ ‘bomb squad’ earlier this month, Amorim said: ‘I think it’s like we just need to follow the markets,’ said Amorim.
‘So the market is open. There are players that clearly show they don’t want to be here and that is normal. They are not bad and I’m good. I’m not bad and they are good.
‘It’s a simple situation that they want new challenges. So we will try to use this space to prepare the team that I think is going to be here.
‘If the market closes and then they are Manchester United players, we as a club have to treat them in the same conditions. But in this moment I’m just working with the players that I think are going to stay and the other guys are trying to find a solution for their careers.’
Given Sancho’s wages of £250,000-a-week, United would prefer a sale for a fee of between £20million and £25million.
Juventus and his former club Borussia Dortmund have also been linked with Sancho this summer.
Sancho spent last season on loan at Chelsea , with whom he won the Conference League. Sancho previously had a loan spell back at Dortmund.
Sancho has been frozen out at United and isn’t part of Ruben Amorim ‘s plans at Old Trafford
Sancho signed for United from Dortmund in 2021 for £73million. He has one year remaining on his contract although United have the option to extend it by a further year.
During his time at United Sancho has made 83 appearances, while he has scored 12 goals and provided six assists.