LOVE Island's Lucinda Strafford cosied up to her Premier League star ex Aaron Connolly yesterday afternoon – after claiming that they'd split before the show.

In The Sun's exclusive photo, the 21-year-old beauty looks loved-up with the hunk after a day out shopping together.


The pair were spotted as they stopped off at Cobham service station in Surrey, making their way home in his car after driving into London.

Our source told us: "They were together all day shopping in London, and looked very comfortable with each other – definitely like a couple.

"I am certain that they have been together the whole time that she was on Love Island, she wasn't trying to keep a low profile and didn't seem fussed about them being seen together."

In our snap, Lucinda is dressed casually in shorts and an oversized denim jacket, with a pink handbag across her body.

Her glossy hair is in its usual sleek, straight style – with Aaron covering up in a baseball cap.

He has teamed a white T-Shirt with matching trousers, and affectionately placed an arm around the ex Islander as they made their way inside.

The Sun previously revealed that Lucinda dated £1m-a-year Brighton & Hove Albion winger Aaron for two years, and they split earlier this year after he cheated before reconciling ahead of her Love Island stint.

An insider told us that they "argued" about her going on the ITV2 reality show – which she hoped would help boost her online fashion boutique.

The couple were still close when she went into the villa and cracked on with co-stars including Brad, Danny, and Aaron – all while football star Aaron looked after her pet dog back at home.

A source explained: "Lucinda and Aaron reconciled before she went on Love Island. It was meant to be a big secret because there are strict rules about it.

Hopefully he's moved on, and I definitely have.

“No one wants to watch a dating show where the stars are really pining for lovers back home. Aaron was only too happy looking after Lucinda’s dog. It makes him feel like they are still the couple they are.”

Lucinda denied the secret romance when she was dumped from the show, insisting at the time: "I am completely and utterly single. Never in a million years would I go on Love Island if I was in a relationship, and I'm sure if I had a boyfriend, he wouldn't be very happy with it either.

"We ended quite dramatically at the start of March but then we made friends."

She defiantly added: "Hopefully, he's moved on and I definitely have."

However, she promptly rejected both Aaron Francis – who she left the show with – and former villa flame Brad after touching back down in the UK, before jumping back into the arms of the football pro.



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