Maya Jama insists she won’t rekindle her relationship with ex Stormzy as she’s ‘happy in the friendship zone’ – amid new ‘romance’ with Man City’s Ruben Dias

Maya Jama has insisted she and ex-boyfriend Stormzy won’t rekindle their relationship as she’s ‘happy in the friendship zone’.

The Love Island host, 30, and the rapper, 31, announced their shock split in July after taking to Instagram with a joint statement stating: ‘We fell madly in love in 2014, broke up in 2019, and the spent five years manoeuvring life apart’.

At the time they confirmed the breakup was ‘final’ after previously going their separate ways following a five year relationship in 2019 and reconnecting in August 2023.

And in a new interview, when asked if they’d ever get back together, Maya – who’s reportedly secretly dating Man City player Ruben Dias –  insisted that this truly is the end for her and Stormzy (real name Michael Ebenezer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr).

She told The Guardian: ‘No, I think we’re happy in this friendship zone.’

Commenting on the attention their romance attracted, Maya explained: ‘I think it’s nice that people love him for being cute and love me for being cute, and when two people you like come together then people get excited by it. That’s just what happens in the celebrity world, don’t you think?’

The Love Island host, 30, and the rapper, 31, announced their shock split in July after taking to Instagram with a joint statement stating: ‘We fell madly in love in 2014, broke up in 2019, and the spent five years manoeuvring life apart’

And in a new interview, when asked if they’d ever get back together, Maya – who’s reportedly secretly dating Man City player Ruben Dias – insisted that this truly is the end for her and Stormzy

She went on to add of the public and media fascination that ‘anybody’ she dates is going to ‘be a thing the moment’.

While it was thought the couple split after disagreements over when to settle down, with Stormzy more of a homeboy and Maya more career driven, last month she confirmed this wasn’t the case. 

After photos emerged of the rapper and his new girlfriend Victoria Monet, Maya took to Instagram to take the opportunity to say that the narrative ‘that I don’t want to settle down and have kids is a lieeeee.’ 

Indeed, the star – who was recently announced as a new judge on The Masked Singer – confirmed during her interview that she does want to retire and have children one day, but it has to be with the ‘right person’.   

She shared: ‘I also more want a family than just want children. Because of the way I was raised and it being all over the place, I’m very conscious that if I’m going to start a family I want it to be with the right person. I want it to be one that lasts for ever. But yeah, I do imagine myself with kids one day.’

Maya’s confirmation of her relationship status with Stormzy comes amid reports she’s been secretly dating Manchester City star Ruben Dias for a month, after catching his eye when they first met at the European Music Awards.

The presenter made a huge splash at the awards show when she arrived in Elizabeth Hurley‘s iconic safety pin dress.

Now sources are claiming that Ruben, who also attended the awards, was equally taken by Maya’s racy look, and after swapping numbers, their romance has heated up in the weeks since.

On the possibility of a reconciliation with the rapper, she told The Guardian : ‘No, I think we’re happy in this friendship zone’ [pictured together in 2017]

The star – who was recently announced as a new judge on The Masked Singer – confirmed during her interview that she does want to retire and have children one day, but it has to be with the ‘right person’

A source told The Sun: ‘Maya and Ruben swapped details at the EMAs and have chatted since, but things went up a gear in early December.

‘When Ruben got injured and had to miss the congested new year fixtures, he jumped at the chance to see in 2025 with Maya in Spain. Spending New Year’s Eve together was a real step forward in their relationship.

‘They get on really well and obviously make a gorgeous couple, but it’s early days.’

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Maya Jama and Ruben Dias for comment.  

Meanwhile, Ruben’s latest social media post has his followers suggesting the Manchester City defender is ‘hard-launching’ a relationship with Maya. 

Ruben , 27, had sparked romance rumours with Jama after the Manchester City star was pictured celebrating New Year’s Eve with the Love Island presenter in Ibiza.

However a recent Instagram post from Ruben’s New Year celebrations has further fuelled speculation that they are dating. 

Meanwhile, Ruben’s latest social media post has his followers suggesting the Manchester City defender is ‘hard-launching’ a relationship with Maya 

A recent Instagram post from Ruben’s New Year celebrations has further fuelled speculation that they are dating [Ruben pictured last month]

The compilation of 11 pictures included a snap of two people gazing at a sunset with their backs to the camera and their faces obscured, though they two appear to be a man and a woman. 

One fan wrote ‘Maya Jama hard launch,’ while others posted gifs and images of Jama beneath Dias’ post. 

Another appeared to be a fan of a potential relationship between the two, adding: ‘I ship Ruben and Maya so bad (sic)’.

While one follower appeared to poke fan at the fact that Dias is currently out injured with a calf problem, writing: ‘You can pull Maya Jama but you can’t pull yourself back on the pitch??’