Premier League WAGs will open up about their battles with loneliness, eating disorders and life-changing decisions made by their husbands in a brand new fly-on-the-wall Amazon documentary.
‘Married To The Game’ will follow the lives of six wives and girlfriends (WAGs) of some of the world’s most high-profile footballers, exploring how life off the pitch is not always as ‘glamorous’ as it may seem.
Former Manchester City stars Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez will feature in the six-part documentary series with their respective partners, Sara Arfaoui and Taylor Ward.
Arsenal and Italy midfielder Jorginho, Nottingham Forest and USA goalkeeper Matt Turner and Everton and England defender James Tarkowski will also star alongside their other halves.
Ahead of the February 23 launch, a trailer was launched today as producers vowed to give ‘an unprecedented glimpse into the lives of each of the women as they juggle work, family and home life, alongside their partners’ high-profile careers’.
In the trailer, Ms Ward reveals her husband Mahrez told her over the phone that the couple would be leaving Manchester for Saudi Arabia after he finalised a lucrative contract with Al Ahli.
The reality TV show ‘Married To The Game’ will follow the lives of the partners of some of the world’s most high-profile footballers. Pictured: Taylor Ward and Sara Gundogan
Jorginho and his fiancée Catherine Harding (right) will feature in the new reality TV show
Riyad Mahrez and his partner Taylor Ward (left) will also have roles in the documentary
Ilkay Gundogan and his wife, Sara (right) will be in the show after welcoming their first child last year
The daughter of TV personality Dawn Ward was seen breaking down in tears before she reveals: ‘Riyad rang me and basically told me we are moving to Saudi.’
Opening up about her fears of being lonely, she tells her footballer husband: ‘I’m going to be sat at home on my own.’
Mahrez is then heard responding: ‘It’s part of the game innit.’
The couple and their 18-month-old daughter were forced to wave goodbye to their life in Cheshire back in July when Mahrez decided to leave Premier League giants Man City and embark on a new adventure in the burgeoning Saudi Pro League.
Taking to Instagram after the footballer signed a four-year contract with the Jeddah based side, Ms Ward insisted she was excited about what the future might hold in the Arabian city while sharing photos of the family adjusting to their surroundings.
She wrote: ‘Home isn’t always a place it’s the people in it.. excited for our next adventure together and can’t believe we’re leaving Manchester as a little family.
‘The last few years have been some of my favourite and will cherish those memories forever… next stop.. Saudia Arabia..’
In a separate part of the trailer, Matt Turner is seen trying to comfort his crying baby, while his wife Ashley is heard saying: ‘It’s not always as glamorous as everyone thinks it is.’
Her views are echoed by Gundogan’s wife who tells the cameras: ‘A lot of people say ‘ah but you have everything’. No.’
The camera then pans to a group of suitcases and she says: ‘They just told me we are moving. And I was like what?’
US shot-stopper Turner has two children with his spouse Ash, who graduated from Harvard University with a Master’s degree in business management in 2018.
Last March, Turner was mobbed by teammates after kicking a miniature ball in the air which revealed that the couple were having a girl.
Meanwhile Barcelona midfielder Gundogan and his wife, Sara, tied the knot in May 2022. Sara has worked as a model, actress and TV presenter in Italy, and the couple welcomed their first child last March.
Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Matt Turner’s wife, Ash (pictured) will be part of the show. She says in once scene: ‘It’s not always as glamorous as everyone thinks it is.’
The spouse of Everton defender James Tarkowski, Sam (pictured) will also feature. She says in once scene: ‘I struggled for years with eating disorders. I’m a women in football. It’s tough.’
Jorginho’s fiancée Catherine Harding, 32, is set to star in new reality show as the couple give fans an insight into their wedding preparations
Catherine will be the star of a new reality TV show, Married To The Game which will run on Prime Video from February 23
Jorginho, 31, got engaged to the singer last December during a romantic proposal
The pair, who are believed to have been dating since 2020, share son Jax, three, while Catherine is also mother to daughter, Ada, eight, from a fling with actor Jude Law
Sam John Stone, the wife of Tarkowski, also confesses in the show: ‘I struggled for years with eating disorders. I’m a women in football. It’s tough.’
Everton defender Tarkowski started dating his wife – a fitness model and influencer – in 2015, and they got married last year.
But amid opening up about the battles they face, viewers are also set to see the lavish lifestyles the couples live.
Weddings, parties and photoshoots are all set to feature across the six episodes.
Jorginho proposed to singer Catherine Harding last month, getting down on one knee while the couple were surrounded by roses and candles as well as being serenaded by a violinist.
The pair, who are believed to have been dating since 2020, share son Jax, three, while Ms Harding is also mother to daughter, Ada, eight, from a fling with actor Jude Law.
Meanwhile, Mahrez married his partner Ms Ward last year. The couple had two separate ceremonies, with the first being a Muslim ceremony known as the Nikah.
In one clip, Taylor seemed slightly stressed as she vented to her hairdresser about the wedding.
The six-part series will also follow Taylor Ward, as she plans her wedding to former Man City player (and captain of Algeria) Riyad Mahrez
Ilkay Gundogan and his wife Sara celebrate Manchester City winning the Champions League final last June
Gundogan met Arfaoui in early 2021 and they announced their engagement that December
Sara (pictured) is heard at one point saying: ‘A lot of people say ‘ah but you have everything’. No.’
USA and Arsenal goalkeeper Turner and wife Ashley welcomed their baby son Easton last year
She exclaimed: ‘Riyad is stressing me out. All the flight have sold out so if I walk down that aisle it will be a miracle.’
Ms Ward’s career as a model and influencer has seen her build an impressive following on social media, and she posed for a photo with Mahrez and the Champions League trophy on the pitch in Istanbul after City won the Treble last season.
The show will provide an insight into how they have settled in the Middle East since Mahrez made his move.
Executive producer Rachael Parker said: ‘Married To The Game is a series with warmth and humour at its heart, offering a surprising and intimate look behind closed doors at the women who share their lives with some of the world’s most celebrated international footballers.’