Premier League footballers 'hiring ex-MMA fighters' after spate of scary burglaries

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Premier League stars are turning to MMA fighters in an effort to stave off a concerning rise in burglaries. A number of top-flight players have been the targets of break-ins over recent seasons - Jack Grealish and Raheem Sterling among those to have seen their Cheshire homes impacted.

And now, players are ramping up their security efforts in an effort to deter potential thieves, a move that has seen the employment of former fighters. A security consultant speaking to The Mail said: “I can tell you that one massive club with several players in the Cheshire area has boosted security. They have now drafted in a couple of former MMA fighters to bodyguard the players and their families.

“One of the lads does the close protection work while the other is a house sitter. That means he stay in the house when the player is away with the club.

“The gangs tend to pull the big jobs when the players are away in Europe. Both the former MMA fighters are very confident when it comes to physical confrontations and would not back off if something happened.

“They look after the players and their families when they are out on the street when things can happen. If a young players wants to go to nightclub they will take them and make sure nothing happens. These lads have fought at the highest levels and are highly capable.”

He added: “So the gangs from Manchester and Liverpool view Prestbury and Knutsford as a kind of Disney Land with endless opportunities. They are not scared of the security guards in the fake police cars who are a source of amusement for them.

“They just want to get in, pull a score and get off. I think there must be a huge buzz factor because the values plummet once an item is stolen.

“And then the fence ( middle man ) wants a cut and by the time everyone is paid off you are down to a few grand each.”

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Following a robbery at his home in 2023 , Grealish took to social media urging those responsible be brought to justice. He wrote: “I can't begin to explain how devastated I am over the burglary that took place at my home a few days ago.

“My family mean the world to me and nothing is more important than ensuring their safety. This has been a traumatic experience for all of us, I am just so grateful that nobody was hurt

"I have had so many amazing experiences and achievements over the last 12 months, but to be honest the best year of my life in football now doesn't feel like something I can celebrate

“The people that commit these terrible crimes have no idea of the damage they cause to peoples lives. I hope they are found and brought to justice so no other family has to go through what we have.”

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