Nigerian international and former West Bromwich Albion defender, Semi Ajayi, has found himself entangled in a swirling controversy after a popular UK-based influencer, Amel Akhtar, publicly accused him of making false promises of marriage before allegedly cutting off contact.
The social media personality took to Instagram with a veiled exposé, claiming that a certain footballer, who recently played for West Brom, misled her into believing they were heading for a serious relationship — only to vanish without explanation. While she refrained from naming names directly, football fans quickly connected the dots to Ajayi, who recently parted ways with West Brom following the expiration of his contract.
According to screenshots of their WhatsApp chats shared by Akhtar, Ajayi reportedly used his national team commitments — including the Unity Cup and a friendly against Russia — to explain his silence. However, she claims the footballer was actively posting online during that same period, leading her to suspect he was deliberately ignoring her.
He sold me dreams about marriage, starting a family, and made me believe I was ‘the one,’” she said. “But he ghosted me for a whole week while pretending to be busy with football.”
Ajayi, 30, known for his composed presence in the heart of defence for Nigeria’s Super Eagles, has not publicly responded to the allegations. The scandal has sparked fresh conversations online about the lifestyle of professional athletes and the emotional fallout of unfulfilled promises in high-profile relationships.
While many footballers enjoy widespread admiration and financial success, critics say their fame sometimes leads to complicated personal entanglements. Whether this saga will affect Ajayi’s image or career remains to be seen.
