Wayne Rooney confirmed on I’m a Celebrity line-up as fans stunned by reported fee

Wayne Rooney has officially been confirmed as a contestant on this year’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here. After weeks of speculation, the Manchester United and England legend is now set to take part in the 26th series of the popular reality show – two years after his wife Coleen’s successful stint . In 2024, Coleen reached the final Down Under, and rumours had been rife that Wayne would be following in her footsteps this year. While the Premier League icon remained tight-lipped on this talk, his participation has now been made official. With a week to go until the next edition of I’m A Celebrity gets underway, Rooney ‘s appearance in the upcoming show was confirmed on Tuesday evening on the show’s official X account. The ITV show shared a picture of this year’s contestants, where the 41-year-old can be seen front and centre amongst a host of stars. While Rooney is undoubtedly the standout name, he will be joined in the jungle by comedian Leigh Francis – best known as Keith Lemon – as well as actress Joanna Page, who plays Stacey in the popular sitcom Gavin and Stacey. Also among the big names heading to Australia this year is Love Island star Chloe Burrows. Rooney ‘I’m A Celeb’ pay revealed Rooney is reportedly set to earn more than anybody else on I’m A Celebrity this year, but surprisingly this will be less than what his wife Coleen picked up in 2024. According to showbiz account ‘Super TV’ on X, the football great’s paycheque will be a huge £700,000 less than his other half’s. Rooney is reportedly set to earn £800,000 for his time on I’m A Celeb, with the second-highest paid contestant this year being Kaiser Chiefs singer Ricky Wilson, who will reportedly earn £175,000. Meanwhile, Coleen remains the joint-highest paid contestant of all time – with reports claiming she pocketed £1.5million for her stint two years ago, the same as politician Nigel Farage in 2023. View Tweet: https://t.co/KTlku4vVaQ As for Rooney, his earnings will place him third on the all-time list of contestants, while this is more than a number of other sporting stars. Former Olympian Caitlyn Jenner and legendary ex-Premier League boss Harry Redknapp are each believed to have been paid £500,000. Just behind them are Arsenal great Ian Wright and former boxing champion Amir Khan – who were both paid £400,000 for their participation in the show. Rooney: Time is finally right After his stint in the jungle was confirmed, Rooney revealed he’d only be listening to some of wife Coleen’s advice when on the show. Man United’s all-time top goalscorer said: “Yeah, she has told me a bit of advice and I’ve had friends that have been in it as well. “But I suppose you have to experience it yourself, don’t you? “I’m just looking forward to experiencing it in my own way – I think that’s the most important thing.” Rooney also revealed he had long thought about taking part in the show and explained now is finally the right time to sign up – having not held a managerial role since his sacking by Plymouth in 2024. He added: “It’s a show I’ve always wanted to do. “Me and Coleen would sit there watching and we both always said: ‘If we were going to do one, it’s the show to do’. “Coleen did it a couple of years ago and then this year it came about because of the way it fell – me not being great as a manager! “And obviously not working full time as a player has given me time where I could do it, so I thought, why not?”