A footballer who has played for League of Ireland team Shelbourne FC for the last year is to set to enter the Love Island villa tonight as a 'bombshell' contestant.
Scott van-der-Sluis is 22, has Dutch heritage and grew up in Wales.
He has been one of Shelbourne FC's goalkeepers since summer of last year, but the club confirmed in a statement today that he has now left the club, after requesting a release from his contract so he could go onto the ITV dating show.
Former Ireland international and Shelbourne FC head coach Damien Duff said jokingly: "I was shocked and saddened that Scott chose a villa in Mallorca full of beautiful, single women over myself, the staff and the players.
"All jokes aside, I thank Scott for his services to Shelbourne FC and we all wish him the very best for the future, whatever that holds."
Van-der-Sluis has previously spent time at Liverpool, Manchester United and Swansea City football clubs prior to moving to Dublin to join Shelbourne in summer 2022.
When he was 16, he became the youngest goalkeeper ever to play with the national Welsh football team.
When asked by the show for his 'elevator pitch' to sell himself as a potential partner, he responded, "Tall, dark, handsome and I'm a goalkeeper, so I’m good with my hands!"
He says that he has been single for three-and-a-half years and when asked why he has decided to take part in Love Island now, he said, "Football is all I've ever done, all I’ve ever known. So this is a new and exciting opportunity for a change up in life."
He's the second contestant of Irish interest to take part in this year's series, with Dublin real estate agent Catherine Agbaje already established in the villa as one of the original contestants.
Love Island continues tonight on ITV2 and Virgin Media One at 9pm.
