Wayne Rooney 'is in advanced talks' to join the I'm A Celebrity 2026 line-up

Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney is in 'advanced talks' to sign up for the 2026 series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here, it has been reported.

Rooney would be one of the most high-profile campmates in the history of the ITV programme, which will once again be held in Australia this winter, if he signs up.

His wife, Coleen, entered the 2024 edition and finished as runner-up to McFly lead guitarist Danny Jones. An announcement surrounding this year's campmates has not yet been made.

Rooney 'in advanced talks' over I'm A Celeb stint

The Sun claim that, as per 'insiders', Rooney is said to be 'keen to impress his four sons' by taking on the iconic Bushtucker Trials.

"Wayne is in advanced talks for I'm A Celebrity and if they secure him, he'll be their biggest signing in the show's history," an unnamed source told the outlet.

"Coleen proved to be hugely popular when she took part two years ago and bosses think Wayne is going to match her success."

Rooney has long been tipped as a future I'm A Celebrity campmate since he retired from football in 2021, though was in coaching roles for most of the years since then.

He was in charge of Birmingham City during the 2023 series, and was manager of Plymouth during the 2024 edition when his wife Coleen entered.

He sent Coleen a video message along with his sons, Kai and Klay, wishing her good luck ahead of the show's final. She won 44.79 per cent of the final vote, with viewers choosing between herself and Jones to decide the series winner.

Rooney is now, of course, a pundit, and has a key role across BBC programming including Match of the Day.

He spoke of his interest in entering the jungle last year but said other commitments had prevented him from doing so to date.

Which other footballers have taken part in I'm A Celebrity?

Football has long had an association with I'm A Celebrity, with former Wimbledon striker John Fashanu finishing as runner-up in the second series of the show in 2003. He was defeated in the final by ex-England cricketer Phil Tufnell.

Neil 'Razor' Ruddock competed in series three, with a break of three years following before Rodney Marsh took part in 2007.

Jimmy Bullard and Kieron Dyer entered in consecutive years in 2014 and 2015, before Wayne Bridge entered in 2016. None of those three names reached the final.

Dennis Wise (2017) and Ian Wright (2019) followed suit, with Harry Redknapp winning the entire series in 2018 to become the first footballer or football manager to be crowned King or Queen of the Jungle. Redknapp returned earlier this year for the controversial I'm A Celebrity South Africa series.

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Newcastle and France legend David Ginola finished in fourth place in 2021, when the series was filmed in Wales.

Jill Scott became the second football-related figure to win the show and was crowned Queen of the Jungle in 2022, with former Arsenal and England defender turned TV presenter Alex Scott entering the jungle in 2025.