Meet Tyrique: The footballer looking for his first ever girlfriend in the Love Island 2023 villa

The biggest event of the year is finally here – yes, it’s finally summer Love Island time again! The shiny new cast are ready to cause chaos, and among them is 24-year-old Tyrique Hyde, a semi-professional footballer who’s already best mates with an iconic past Love Island cast member and is heading to the villa because he’s never had a girlfriend and thinks it could be time to find the one. We’re all in for an absolute treat.

Could Tyrique Hyde be the winner of Love Island 2023? Here’s absolutely everything you need to know about him:

Tyrique is going on Love Island because he’s ‘never had a girlfriend and hasn’t been on holiday for ages’

24-year-old Tyrique Hyde is a semi-professional footballer from Essex. He plays for Lewes FC in Sussex as a central midfielder, and has previously played for teams including Dartford and Dulwich Hamlet.

When asked why he’s going on Love Island 2023, Tyrique said: “I’ve never had a girlfriend and I haven’t been on holiday for ages so it’s perfect.” Fair tbh. He says that in the past he hasn’t been ready to commit, but now he’s “open to settling down with the right girl”.

Tyrique already has connections to Love Island royalty!

Love Island season seven’s Toby Aromolaran is one of Tyrique’s best friends. “We grew up together and were in the same class at school”, Tyrique says. If Toby’s given Tyrique any tips about life in the villa, we’re sure to be in for an eventful summer.

But Tyrique’s favourite ever Love Island moment isn’t one of Toby’s, it’s actually when Davide called Ekin-Su a liar and actress. “That was so funny”, Tyrique says. An iconic moment if there ever was one.

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Tyrique says he’ll bring fun, vibes and good energy to the Love Island villa, as well as honesty. “I don’t sit on the fence, if I have an opinion I will speak up”, he says. “I’m also not afraid to go after what I want.” With a partner, Tyrique says he’d be “caring, considerate and a very good listener”, and is looking for someone who is loyal, trustworthy and caring.

Tyrique is partially deaf and has a tattoo to symbolise it

When asked what he’d want his fellow Love Island cast to know about him, Tyrique said: “That I’m deaf in my right ear. I’ve got a tattoo next to my left one that symbolises strength and power in my good one.” He says being partially deaf is something he’s “been used to my whole life” and it doesn’t give him any obstacles day to day.

He already has loads of followers on Instagram and is a bit of a nepo baby

Tyrique already has over 21,000 followers on Instagram, where his account is @tyriquehyde. Most of his pictures are either of him playing football or on nights out with mates.

And Tyrique’s a nepo baby! His dad is Micah Hyde, a former professional footballer who played alongside David Beckham in the Brimsdown Rovers youth team before playing for Premier League clubs and the Jamaica national team. He retired from football in 2012 and then went into football coaching. Micah is currently the lead development coach for the under 18s team at Queen’s Park Rangers.

Love Island 2023 kicks off on Monday 5th June at 9pm. For all the latest Love Island news and gossip and for the best memes and quizzes, like The Holy Church of Love Island on Facebook. 

Featured image via Instagram @tyriquehyde

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