Swiss footballer Alisha Lehmann and Love Island star Montel McKenzie are engaged, the couple confirmed on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. Lehmann, one of the world’s most-followed female footballers, shared the news with her millions of Instagram followers alongside a series of professional photos taken at the moment McKenzie proposed.
The Alisha Lehmann engagement to Montel McKenzie has quickly become one of the most talked-about stories in both football and celebrity news circles, drawing widespread attention from fans across both worlds.
Alisha Lehmann Engaged: Official Announcement and Proposal Details
Lehmann announced the engagement on Instagram on Wednesday morning, posting a carousel of photographs captioned simply: “Forever & Always.”
The post, which attracted millions of likes and comments within hours, shows Lehmann visibly stunned as McKenzie drops to one knee. She is seen bringing her hands to her face in disbelief, wearing a black mini dress, with a large diamond ring clearly visible in McKenzie’s hands.
The announcement puts an end to months of speculation. Rumours of a possible proposal had been circulating since May, when the couple were photographed visiting a high-end jewellery store together. McKenzie had also teased fans on social media at the time with a lock-and-key emoji, though representatives for both initially denied a formal proposal had taken place.
Romantic Beach Proposal – Alisha Lehmann Shares Stunning Engagement Photos
The proposal took place on a picturesque beach during the couple’s summer holiday, with the setting providing a dramatic backdrop for the images.
Professional photographs captured the full moment, from McKenzie on one knee to the couple embracing shortly after. The images, which rapidly circulated across social media platforms, show a natural and emotional reaction from Lehmann, who appeared genuinely surprised by the proposal.
The photos were shared widely by media outlets and fan accounts within minutes of being posted, reinforcing the pair’s combined reach across football and entertainment audiences.
Who Is Montel McKenzie? Love Island Star and Alisha Lehmann’s Fiancé
Montel McKenzie, born December 31, 1997, in East London, is a semi-professional footballer and television personality. He plays as a right-back and has turned out for clubs including Hemel Hempstead Town, Billericay Town, and, most recently, Folkestone Invicta in the Isthmian League Premier Division.
He first came to public attention as a contestant on Love Island Series 10 in 2023, entering the villa as a bombshell. He returned to the franchise in early 2025 for Love Island: All Stars, though he did not find lasting romance in either appearance.
Away from reality television, McKenzie has spoken openly about the challenge of being taken seriously as a footballer after appearing on a dating show. He told the Daily Mail:
“After appearing on the show, you get labeled as a TV star. But if you know me, you know I am intensely focused on football.”
McKenzie captained KSI’s Baller League UK side, Prime FC, in 2026, leading the team to the title with a 5–2 victory over NDL FC at The O2 Arena in May 2026.
How Alisha Lehmann and Montel McKenzie Met in the Baller League
The couple’s connection began through the Baller League UK, a six-a-side football competition that blends current players, former professionals, and celebrity managers.
Lehmann served as team manager for MVPs United across two seasons of the tournament, while McKenzie played for the same side. Their relationship evolved from a professional working arrangement over the course of multiple seasons into something deeper.
McKenzie told Goal.com that the presence of Lehmann on the sidelines had a clear impact on his game.
“We had Alisha, she knows about football, so she was giving her piece on how we were playing,” he said. “Just seeing them there makes you play better.”
The tournament environment, which combines competitive football with a social media-friendly setting, proved to be the unlikely backdrop for one of sport’s more high-profile romances.
How Long Have Alisha Lehmann and Montel McKenzie Been Together?
The couple went Instagram official in January 2026, making their relationship public around the same time Lehmann completed her move to Leicester City from Italian side FC Como.
An insider told The Sun at the time:
“Alisha has been flying him to her Como apartment for sneaky weekend breaks for a while now. Everyone is really happy for them, although initially everyone thought it was going to be just a casual thing.”
From going public in January to an engagement announced in June 2026, the couple have moved quickly, with the relationship spanning approximately five to six months at the point of the proposal.
Alisha Lehmann and Montel McKenzie Relationship Timeline
2024–2025: Lehmann and McKenzie work together across two Baller League UK seasons, with Lehmann as manager and McKenzie as player for MVPs United.
January 2026: The couple go Instagram official, coinciding with Lehmann’s mid-season transfer to Leicester City in the WSL.
May 2026: Speculation grows after the pair are spotted visiting a high-end jewellery store. McKenzie posts a cryptic lock-and-key emoji on social media.
May 26, 2026: McKenzie captains Prime FC to the Baller League UK title at The O2 Arena. Lehmann is present at the venue, and the couple are photographed sharing a kiss on the pitch following the final.
June 24, 2026: Lehmann announces the engagement on Instagram, sharing professional proposal photos taken during a beach holiday.
Alisha Lehmann’s Previous Relationships
Before McKenzie, Lehmann’s most significant public relationship was with Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz. The pair began dating in 2021 and had an on-off relationship that saw them move together to Juventus in 2024. Their split was confirmed by Lehmann in May 2025 via social media.
Prior to that, Lehmann dated Swiss national teammate Ramona Bachmann. Their relationship was documented in the 2019 BBC Three series Britain’s Youngest Football Boss, in which they both appeared.
Lehmann is openly bisexual and has spoken publicly about her personal life on multiple occasions over the years.
Alisha Lehmann Career Update: Leicester City Star in the WSL
On the professional side, Lehmann joined Leicester City on a two-and-a-half-year contract in January 2026, signing until the summer of 2028. The move brought her back to the Women’s Super League after spells with Juventus and FC Como in Italy.
It was not a straightforward first half-season. Leicester were relegated from the WSL following a penalty shootout defeat to Charlton Athletic in the end-of-season play-off, a result that leaves the club’s top-flight future uncertain.
Lehmann made nine WSL appearances after her January arrival, logging just over 500 minutes of action. Despite the club losing every game in which she featured, she won both the Fans’ Player of the Season and Goal of the Season awards at Leicester’s end-of-season ceremony, voted for by supporters and heavily influenced by her global fanbase of over 16 million Instagram followers.
Her long-term future at the club will likely depend on whether Leicester can win promotion back to the WSL via the play-offs next season. Her contract runs to 2028, leaving options open in either direction.
On the international stage, Lehmann represented Switzerland at UEFA Euro 2025, coming off the bench in multiple matches as the Swiss reached the quarter-finals before losing to Spain.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q. When did Alisha Lehmann and Montel McKenzie get engaged?
A. Alisha Lehmann announced her engagement to Montel McKenzie on June 24, 2026, sharing proposal photos on Instagram.
Q. Where did Montel McKenzie propose to Alisha Lehmann?
A. McKenzie proposed on a beach during the couple’s summer holiday. Lehmann shared professional photographs of the moment on Instagram.
Q. How did Alisha Lehmann and Montel McKenzie meet?
A. They met through the Baller League UK, a six-a-side football tournament. Lehmann managed the MVPs United team while McKenzie played for the same side.
Q. Who is Montel McKenzie?
A. Montel McKenzie is a 28-year-old English semi-professional footballer and television personality, known for appearing on Love Island in 2023 and Love Island: All Stars in 2025. He plays as a right-back and captained Prime FC to the 2026 Baller League UK title.
Q. Is Alisha Lehmann still at Leicester City?
A. Yes. Lehmann joined Leicester City in January 2026 on a contract until 2028. The club was relegated from the WSL at the end of the 2025–26 season and faces a return via the play-offs.
Q. Who did Alisha Lehmann date before Montel McKenzie?
A. Lehmann previously dated Brazilian footballer Douglas Luiz, with whom she was in a relationship from 2021 to 2025. Before that, she was in a relationship with Swiss footballer Ramona Bachmann.
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