Shaun Wright-Phillips is set to swap the football pitch for the dance floor after being confirmed as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing 2026.
The former England international joins a lineup of 15 celebrities for the upcoming series.
The 44-year-old brought an end to a professional career spanning almost two decades in 2019, having represented clubs including Manchester City, Chelsea and various teams in the United States.
Wright-Phillips was born Shaun Cameron Wright-Phillips on October 25, 1981, in Greenwich, Greater London.
His early years were spent in Brockley, where he attended Haberdashers’ Aske’s Hatcham College in New Cross Gate.
He was adopted by Arsenal legend Ian Wright when he was three years old, following the start of a relationship between Ian Wright and his mother Sharon Phillips.
His sibling Bradley Wright-Phillips also forged a successful career in professional football, becoming the all-time leading scorer for New York Red Bulls.
The pair later featured together at the American club.
Wright-Phillips began his development at Nottingham Forest but departed the club upon his release at 17.
He subsequently joined Manchester City, making his senior debut as a substitute during the return leg of a League Cup match against Burnley in 1999.
Over subsequent seasons, he accumulated more than 180 appearances for City across all competitions.
In 2005, Wright-Phillips transferred to Chelsea, then reigning Premier League champions, in a deal worth £21 million.
Three years later, he returned to Manchester City.
His time in England’s top flight encompassed 13 seasons across spells with City, Chelsea and Queens Park Rangers.
Beyond the Premier League, he gained experience in the Football League, MLS and the USL before joining New York Red Bulls alongside Bradley in 2015.
He later moved to Phoenix Rising FC in 2017.
On the international stage, Wright-Phillips earned 36 caps for England and found the net six times.
He was part of the Three Lions squad at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Following his retirement from playing, Wright-Phillips pursued a career in media, working as a football analyst for BBC Sport, ITV Sport, Talksport and Sky Sports.
Upon confirmation of his involvement in the dance competition, Wright-Phillips described it as a new challenge entirely different from his sporting background.
He stated that dancing had featured at family gatherings but remained outside his professional experience.
He expressed enthusiasm about stepping beyond his usual comfort zone while anticipating the demands of learning new routines.
Other footballers who have previously appeared on Strictly include Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Tony Adams and Paul Merson.
Karen Carney, a former footballer herself, claimed victory in the previous series.
The new series launches on Saturday, September 19, with the introductory episode broadcast from 7:25pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
Live performances begin the following Saturday, running weekly through to December 19, when the grand final will determine the recipient of the Glitterball trophy.