As Jude Bellingham continues to cement his status as one of world football’s most electrifying talents, the spotlight on his personal life has intensified. The 22-year-old Real Madrid and England midfielder is currently navigating the pressure of the 2026 World Cup, but away from the pitch, his relationship with American influencer Ashlyn Castro has become a major talking point. While Bellingham has always been guarded about his private affairs, his romance with Castro, a 28-year-old model and content creator from California, has moved from whispered rumours to a full-blown public relationship, with the pair now a regular fixture in the stands and on the social circuits of Madrid and beyond.
However, the journey to this point hasn’t been without its complications. Reports suggest that Castro initially faced a frosty reception from Bellingham’s famously protective mother, Denise, who was wary of the influencer’s glamorous, jet-setting lifestyle. Yet, Castro appears to have won over the Bellingham clan, now regularly sitting alongside Denise at matches, including England’s World Cup opener in Dallas.
This public display of unity signals a serious commitment, but it also comes amid a very public family feud involving Castro’s own mother, who has publicly claimed she is living in a homeless shelter. As Bellingham shines on the world stage, his off-field dynamics offer a compelling subplot of love, loyalty, and family drama.
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The Girlfriend: Ashlyn Castro – Age, Career, and Famous Exes
The woman who has captured Jude Bellingham’s heart is Ashlyn Reece Castro, a 28-year-old American influencer and model born on December 17, 1997. With a six-year age gap between them—Bellingham was born in 2003—Castro brings a level of maturity and experience to the relationship.
She has built a substantial online presence, boasting over 675,000 followers on Instagram, where she shares a curated mix of fashion, beauty, and luxury lifestyle content, often featuring her travels on private jets and stays in high-end hotels. Her career as a digital creator has seen her partner with major brands like Clarins and Pretty Little Thing, establishing her as a significant figure in the influencer space long before her name was linked to the football star.
Before Bellingham, Castro’s dating history reads like a who’s who of celebrity gossip. She has been romantically linked to some very high-profile names. Most notably, she was photographed with Academy Award-winning actor Michael B. Jordan in late 2017, with images showing her sitting on his lap at a private event in Los Angeles. She has also been connected to NBA stars LaMelo Ball and Terance Mann.
Interestingly, when rumours surfaced that Castro had been unfaithful to Bellingham with Mann, the basketball player quickly dismissed the allegations as “crazy”. These high-profile connections have prepared Castro for the intense scrutiny that comes with dating one of England’s biggest sports stars, with sources noting she “understands how to maintain intrigue while keeping her private life private”.
Dating History: From Laura Celia Valk to Ashlyn Castro
Before his relationship with Castro, Jude Bellingham’s dating history was relatively quiet, with only a few notable links making the headlines. The most significant of these was his rumoured romance with Dutch model Laura Celia Valk in early 2024. Reports at the time suggested Bellingham was “completely smitten” with Valk. However, the speculation was short-lived, as Valk quickly confirmed she was single shortly afterwards. Some reports even suggested that the link might have been a publicity stunt orchestrated by a clothing brand that Valk modelled for, rather than a genuine romance.
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This brief fling with Valk stands in stark contrast to his current, seemingly serious relationship with Castro. The pair are believed to have met on the exclusive celebrity dating app Raya towards the end of 2024. After initially interacting on Instagram in November 2024, they were first spotted together publicly in Madrid in January 2025. Since then, their relationship has progressed rapidly, with Castro becoming a regular presence at Real Madrid matches and now a prominent figure in the England WAGs entourage at the 2026 World Cup.
While Jude Bellingham remains focused on bringing glory to England, his personal life with Ashlyn Castro has become a fascinating narrative of its own, blending the worlds of international football, Hollywood, and high-end social media.
