Reuben Collins is an English semi-professional footballer and television personality who gained national attention through Love Island UK. Born on 16 December 2000, he is 25 years old as of September 2026. He comes from Surrey and built his career through football before becoming known to a much wider television audience.
His life combines competitive sport, television and digital media. Long before reality TV brought him fame, football was the centre of his professional ambitions. His career has included academy football, senior non-league competition and spells with clubs at different levels of the English football pyramid.
Reuben Collins Age, Birthday and Height
Reuben Collins was born on 16 December 2000, making him 25 years old in 2026. Current football data gives his height as 194 cm, equal to roughly 6 ft 4 in, although an older LinkedIn description gave his height as 6 ft 3 in.
His height is well suited to his main football role as a central defender. He is right-footed and has spent much of his senior career playing in defence. His physical build, experience and years within organised football have helped him continue competing at semi-professional level.
Where Is Reuben Collins From?
Reuben Collins is from Surrey, England, an area closely connected with much of his early football journey. During his appearance on Love Island, he was introduced as a 23-year-old from Surrey who worked as an account assistant while also playing semi-professional football.
His Surrey connection also fits with many of the clubs he has represented. While his career has taken him to teams in different parts of England, much of his recent football has remained within southern England and the wider London region.
Reuben Collins Football Career
Football has been part of his life since childhood. He joined the AFC Wimbledon system at youth level and progressed through the age groups. According to the career history he has shared, he spent close to eight years connected with Wimbledon, including a period as a full-time professional footballer.
That experience gave him exposure to a professional club environment at an early age. He later developed his senior career through loan moves and non-league football, building experience with a wide range of teams rather than following one simple path.
AFC Wimbledon and Early Senior Experience
His time at AFC Wimbledon included football from under-12 to under-18 level. He then moved into the professional stage of his development, with his senior period at the club covering 2019 and 2020.
During this phase, he also gained experience away from Wimbledon. Loan spells gave him the chance to play senior football and adapt to the physical demands of adult competition. Basingstoke Town and Billericay Town were among the clubs involved in this stage of his career.
Truro City, Merstham and Corinthian-Casuals
After leaving AFC Wimbledon, Collins continued his career with Truro City. His football journey later included Merstham and Corinthian-Casuals, adding further experience within the English non-league system.
These moves show the persistence needed to remain active in semi-professional football. Non-league players often have to combine training and matches with other work, making discipline and consistency vital parts of their careers.
Chertsey Town and Harrow Borough
He joined Chertsey Town in September 2023 and remained closely associated with the club during the period when he entered Love Island. His LinkedIn described him as a semi-professional player competing at Step 3 level.
His career then moved forward again when he joined Harrow Borough in August 2025. Current transfer data records that move after his time with Chertsey Town.
Reuben Collins Joins Ashford Town
A major update came in July 2026 when Ashford Town (Middlesex) confirmed him among its new signings for the 2026–27 campaign. The club stated that he joined from Harrow Borough as it prepared for its return to the Isthmian League.
His verified Instagram bio also identifies Ashford Town, strengthening the connection between his current social media identity and his football career. The move gives him another opportunity to continue competing while building his presence outside the game.
Reuben Collins on Love Island
His name reached a much larger audience in 2024 when he entered Series 11 of ITV2’s Love Island. He arrived on Day 36 as a bombshell alongside Josh Oyinsan and immediately became part of the villa’s changing relationships.
At the time, Reuben Collins was 23 and described as an account assistant and semi-professional footballer. His energetic personality quickly became one of his defining features, matching the upbeat image he later continued to develop across social media.
Uma Jammeh and Grace Jackson
During his first days in the villa, he showed interest in several contestants. He selected Uma Jammeh during one of the early developments after his arrival, but events changed when Uma chose to leave with Wil Anderson.
His strongest romantic connection eventually developed with Grace Jackson. The two became a couple and remained together until they were eliminated on Day 52, shortly before the final.
Reuben Collins Partner and Relationship Status
The relationship with Grace continued briefly outside the villa. They shared their connection on Instagram, but their romance ended in August 2024. Distance and demanding schedules were central factors, with Grace based in Manchester while Collins’ life was centred farther south.
As of September 2026, he has no confirmed current partner. It is therefore more accurate to say that his present relationship status has not been formally disclosed rather than attach him to someone without firm evidence.
Is Grace Jackson Still His Girlfriend?
No. Grace Jackson is his former partner rather than his current girlfriend. Their relationship became one of the notable romances from the later stages of the 2024 series, but it did not develop into a long-term partnership.
The pair have since moved forward with their individual lives and careers. Their time together remains an important part of his television story because it introduced another side of him beyond his sporting background.
Reuben Collins Instagram, Personality and the “Energy” Identity
Reuben Collins has built a strong social media presence since leaving the villa. His verified Instagram account has more than 73,000 followers, and his biography uses the phrase “Bringing the ENERGY”, which has become closely connected with his online personality.
He also refers to supporters as his “energy crew”. His posts focus on football, sport, friendships, personal experiences and positive messages rather than presenting only a polished celebrity image.
Personal Growth and Positive Thinking
In one recent post, he spoke openly about overthinking, learning to stay present and taking life one day at a time. He described how conversations and experiences can provide a mental reset and encourage people to become better versions of themselves.
The message showed a reflective side to his character. He has used his growing platform to speak about gratitude, motivation, friendship and making the people closest to him proud, while continuing the energetic style associated with his online identity.
Sports Media and MI London
His social media activity has also included collaborative sports content with MI London. One joint Instagram reel featured captain Sam Curran discussing an important victory, placing Collins within content connected to professional cricket.
This does not establish him as an official MI London presenter or employee, but it shows that his media work is moving beyond reality television. Sport remains a natural area for him because of his own long playing career.
Career Beyond Reality Television
His path stands out because television fame has not ended his football career. He has continued playing competitively while maintaining an active digital presence and exploring opportunities linked with entertainment and sport.
That balance could shape the next stage of his career. Football gives him credibility within sport, while Love Island gave him a recognised public identity and a substantial social media audience.
Reuben Collins Today
Reuben Collins is now building a career that connects football, television and social media. At 25, he has already experienced professional academy football, senior non-league competition, national reality TV exposure and a growing digital audience.
His move to Ashford Town for the 2026–27 season confirms that football remains an active part of his life. At the same time, his positive “energy” identity and sports-related media work give him room to develop well beyond the pitch.
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