Rio Ferdinand QUITS TNT Sports: Man United legend announces exit
Mail Sport revealed in March the former England and Manchester United captain was set to quit at the end of the season in a major blow for the station.
Insiders at TNT have insisted that the decision was 'an amicable parting of the ways' but it is understood that Ferdinand was the driving force behind the move.
The 46-year-old has a growing portfolio of business interests, along with a young family, and recently his management company New Era signed a partnership with Beverly Hills-based talent agency giants WME.
Ferdinand, who has a following of more than 30m across various platforms, was offered a new contract by TNT some months ago, but it went unsigned, much to the dismay of bosses. The door remains open, and he may return for certain elements of coverage next season.
In a statement released at noon today, Ferdinand said: 'I have made the difficult decision to step away from TNT sports after the Champions League final.
Statement: After ten incredible years, I have made the difficult decision to step away from @tntsports after the Champions League Final…. pic.twitter.com/71A9EJPBye — Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) May 28, 2025
Rio Ferdinand has announced his exit from TNT Sports after 10 years of broadcasting
He reportedly plans to relocate to Dubai with his wife Kate nine years after meeting her there
They are 'seriously considering' relocating with their children and have looked at houses
'Since retiring from football it has been a privilege talking about the game I love for a decade for sports fans watching on BT Sport and TNT Sports.
'I want to acknowledge the tremendous support from the team behind the scenes whose hard work often goes unseen but has been essential to our success.
'To everyone at TNT Sports, we have a brilliant end to the season to look forward to on Saturday and for now all focus will be on what I think could go down as one of the great European finals.
'The network continues to thrive with more rights than ever. I know I look forward to following its progress and the exciting future that lies ahead.
'Lastly I would like to thank my family and my management company New Era for their ongoing support. They have supported me to travel all over Europe following the best players and watching the best matches.'
A switch in focus to the US would make sense. With the World Cup taking place across the Atlantic next year, WME are focussing on securing opportunities in the US for Ferdinand both on and off the screen. They currently represent the likes of Ryan Reynolds, Jessica Alba and Maggie Gyllenhaal.
'I'm excited about what the future holds, spending more time with my family focusing on Rio Ferdinand Presents and my other business interests,' he added. 'I hope to stay connected with all of you in different capacities. Thank you once again for everything.'
He is reportedly planning to move to Dubai with his wife Kate Ferdinand. They share kids Cree and Shae, while Kate is also stepmother to Lorenz, 18, Tate, 16, and Tia, 13, from Rio's marriage to late wife Rebecca Ellison.
According to the Sun, Ferdinand and Kate are 'seriously considering' relocating with their children and have already started looking at swanky properties and schools.
The couple would base themsleves in The Gulf and travel back to the UK for work, giving Rio opportunity to boost his business portfolio aboard.
The 46-year-old has a host of other business ventures, including Rio Ferdinand Presents
Rio and Kate, who married in 2019, met back in 2016 through mutual friends while they were both on holiday in Dubai (pictured)
The couple would base themsleves in The Gulf and travel back to the UK for work, while also giving Rio opportunity to boost his business portfolio abroad
A source told the publication: 'Rio and Kate are seriously considering being based out in the Gulf and are looking for a sprawling home with plenty of bedrooms.
'They love the lifestyle and sunny weather and have lots of friends out there. It's a very safe place for families and offers a healthy lifestyle, which suits them well.'
'It holds a special place in their hearts as that's where they met and both could easily travel back and forth for their work commitments in the UK'.
MailOnline contacted their representatives at the time of the report.
Rio and Kate, who wed in 2019, met back in 2016 through mutual friends while they were both on holiday in Dubai.
Kate marked eight years since she met her husband as she shared a heartwarming throwback snap of the couple together in December.
The couple were back in the UAE to ring in 2025 with Kate sharing a cosy snap of the them enjoying a night out.
Alongside the post, she wrote: 'Rio and I met eight years ago yesterday.
A source said: 'It holds a special place in their hearts as that's where they met and both could easily travel back and forth for their work commitments in the UK'
'Who would have thought that fast forward to now we would be back in the place we met, married, with two more beautiful children, five in total
'It's crazy to think that a chance meeting, and so many hurdles thrown our way we would be ready to see in the new year as a family of seven (just missing our Lorenz).
It come after the couple watched the footballer's eldest son Lorenz make his senior football debut.
He made his debut for seventh-tier-side Havant and Waterlooville and secured a 3-1 win, after joining on work experience.
His Manchester United star father was in attendance for the match at the Alfred Davis Memorial Ground in Marlow, alongside Kate.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
23 minutes ago
- Metro
7 films celebrating women in sport after the Lionesses win Euro 2025
England is celebrating after the Lionesses brought home the Euro 2025 cup following a nail-biting final against Spain. In a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final, the Lionesses avenged that heartbreaking defeat in Sydney two years ago by clawing back the win during penalties. After a nervy 120 minutes, Hannah Hampton was the hero in the shootout, saving three penalties, giving Chloe Kelly the chance to score the winning spot-kick. It marks the first time an England team has won a major trophy on foreign soil, so naturally, fans of the sport are over the moon. Women's sporting achievements are often overshadowed in the public eye, with the Lionesses' win shining a light on their importance for younger generations dipping their toes into sports. Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. Various films across the decades have celebrated women in sports, whether that be football, boxing, cricket, or more obscure activities. Following the Lionesses' Euro win, dive into these seven flicks available to stream and rent right now, highlighting incredible sportswomen both fictional and in real life. Where to watch: ITVX and Disney Plus Is there a more perfect film to celebrate the England women's football team than Bend It Like Beckham? And what's more, we'll have a sequel to enjoy soon, too. Released in 2002, Bend It Like Beckham starred Keira Knightley and Parminder Nagra and is credited with inspiring a generation of girls to take up football. Its plot follows Jesminder Bhamra (Nagra), who dreams of a career in professional footie. However, her Sikh parents want her to study for a law degree and get married. She meets Jules Paxton (Knightley), a white female striker who invites Jess to join the local women's team. Where to watch: Available to rent on Apple TV Despite being financially unsuccessful, Whip It gained a cult following while also highlighting the incredible sport of roller derby to the masses. Directed by Drew Barrymore and based on Shauna Cross' 2007 novel Derby Girl, it follows Texas teen Bliss Cavendar (Elliot Page), who is falling out of love with the beauty pageant world. She attends a roller derby match between the Holy Rollers and the Hurl Scouts and falls in love with the sport, joining the latter behind her parents' backs. Where to watch: Available to rent and buy on Prime Video Fight like a girl with Girlfight, directed by Karyn Kusama, who wrote the screenplay after learning the sport herself. Starring Michelle Rodriguez in her film debut, it follows a troubled Brooklyn high school student, Diana Guzman (Rodriguez), who regularly finds herself in trouble at school. She channels her aggression into becoming a boxer, despite the disapproval of her father (Paul Calderón) and her competitors in the male-dominated sport. Where to watch: Available to rent on Prime Video, Apple TV, and the Sky Store Starring Madonna, Geena Davis, and Tom Hanks, A League of Their Own is a sports comedy with real heart. Set during World War II, sisters Dottie (Davis) and Kit (Lori Petty) are drafted into an all-women's baseball league. They are led by Jimmy Dugan (Hanks), an alcoholic former star who struggles to manage the team and coach them to victory. Where to watch: Netflix Nyad is based on the real-life record-breaking American sports figure Diana Nyad, and was a box office and critical success at the time of its release. Nyad sees four-time Oscar nominee Annette Bening play swimmer Nyad, who, with support from her best friend and coach Bonnie Stoll (Jodie Foster), starts training at the age of 60 to finally attempt achieving her life-long dream: a 110-mile open ocean swim from Cuba to Florida. It co-stars Rhys Ifans as Nyad's chief navigator on her quest, John Bartlett, as well as Anna Harriette Pittman as the young version of Diana, Erica Cho, Luke Cosgrove, Eric T. Miller, and Garland Scott. Where to watch: Available to rent on Prime Video and the Sky Store Jeff Bridges, Missy Peregrym, and Vanessa Lengies star in the 2006 sports comedy Stick It from Bring It On writer Jessica Bendinger. It follows Haley (Peregrym), a gifted athlete who, after her final brush with the law, is sentenced by a judge to join an elite gymnastics academy. Under the tutelage of legendary coach Burt Vickerman (Bridges), she harnesses her natural ability for the sport while her rebellious attitude wins both friends and enemies alike. Where to watch: Available to rent and buy on Prime Video More Trending The Oscar-winning Million Dollar Baby is one of the most influential sports films of modern times, often being cited as one of the greatest films of the 21st century. Starring Hilary Swank, Clint Eastwood, and Morgan Freeman, it follows cantankerous boxing trainer Frankie Dunn (Eastwood), who agrees to train Maggie Fitzgerald (Swank), a waitress and aspiring boxer. Maggie fights her way through the amateur tournaments, earning herself a reputation for quick knockouts, but she must battle with her self-doubt, her underappreciative coach, and the disapproval of her parents to achieve victory. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: 'If that's not a sign…' – Ella Toone shares poignant tribute to 'angel' dad after Euro 2025 win MORE: Emmerdale celebrates the Lionesses' Euros victory with last minute special scene MORE: England Euro 2025 hero second favourite to win Sports Personality of the Year
The Independent
23 minutes ago
- The Independent
Connection times to be cut ‘by more than half' via new security rules for London-US flights
Travellers on connecting flights from London to the US will soon be able to avoid rechecking hold luggage and skip standard airport customs. Starting this month, US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) pilot programme One Stop Security (OSS) plans to streamline terminal security steps to speed up connections for air passengers. Some American Airlines passengers flying from London Heathrow airport with connecting journeys through Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW) will now be able to clear US Customs at the arrival gate. From here, customers can directly board their connecting flight without reclaiming and rechecking hold luggage or clearing TSA security. Typically, travellers must clear customs, claim checked bags, recheck bags and then again go through security. With OSS, checked bags are automatically transferred to the connecting flight. The pilot system is a partnership of the TSA, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the UK Department for Transport (DfT). According to American Airlines, the new process is expected to cut airport connection times by 'more than half'. American is the first US airline to pilot the scheme on select routes at DFW. Some Delta passengers are also trialling OSS on routes from Heathrow to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Travellers with Delta will be processed in a dedicated customs area and will not have to claim and recheck their bags. However, only those who are registered in Global Entry, a 'trusted traveller programme', or have the Mobile Passport Control app, will be able to bypass TSA screening, reported the NY Times. To apply for Global Entry, British passengers are required to apply for a background check by the UK government (£42), then the US government (£90). Upon passing, passengers are subject to an in-person interview. Once completed, Global Entry is valid for five years. The introduction of the security system in the US follows a successful pilot in February for travellers connecting to international destinations from London Heathrow. David Seymour, COO at American Airlines, said: 'One Stop Security is one of the most forward-thinking enhancements we can bring to international travel — and importantly, to our customers — as it delivers a level of convenience and time-savings that's never been available before to customers connecting from international flights. 'Customers will spend significantly less time worrying about an onerous connection process and more time enjoying their travel journey.' TSA deputy administrator Adam Stahl told Fox News Digital that OSS could be expanded to other airports in the next month. He said: 'It really is a common sense security approach for us to streamline security from abroad to the United States.'
The Independent
23 minutes ago
- The Independent
STV warns over profits as advertising market slumps and TV projects delayed
Scottish media firm STV Group has downgraded its sales and profit outlook as 'deteriorating' economic conditions squeeze advertising revenues and push back TV projects. Shares in the London-listed business plunged by about a quarter on Monday morning following the update. STV said it was now expecting full-year revenue and adjusted operating profit to be 'materially below' a consensus of analysts. Revenues are predicted to range between £165 million and £180 million for 2025. The company said it was now targeting £2.5 million worth of cost savings this year – higher than the £1.7 million outlined in March – having launched a significant savings programme last year, including across its broadcast operations. STV blamed worsening conditions in the commissioning and advertising markets in recent months for the profit and sales downgrade. Advertising revenues for the period between July and September is forecast to decline by 8%, lower than previously expected, driven by a sharp 20% drop in July, it told investors. The year-on-year decline is set to be impacted by particularly strong sales this time last year, due to the men's Euro football tournament being broadcast on TV. It follows a 10% fall in advertising revenues over the first half of 2025. A number of businesses, including WPP and S4 Capital, have flagged a worsening advertising market as more challenging economic conditions prompt clients to reign in marketing spending. Furthermore, STV warned the uncertainty was causing significant deterioration in the commissioning market. It said projects within its unscripted labels were being impacted with some in advanced development not getting the green light, and others being delayed into 2026. Nevertheless, it highlighted strong progress within its scripted labels with current projects including for Netflix, Apple, Sky and the BBC. Rufus Radcliffe, STV's chief executive, said: 'The deteriorating macroeconomic backdrop continues to lower business confidence impacting both markets in which we operate. 'STV Studios' delivery schedule for the remainder of 2025 has been impacted by the UK commissioning market, which has further weakened at the end of H1 (the first half of 2025) and into the second half of the year.' But he said production had finished on 'key titles with international appeal, including high-end drama Amadeus for Sky and a third series of Blue Lights for BBC One'. 'We are proactively responding to market conditions through a combination of investing in targeted future growth initiatives aligned with our long-term strategy and identifying efficiency and cost saving opportunities across the business,' Mr Radcliffe added.
