I kept looking at sexy pictures of my new wife for years before we actually met reveals ex-Rangers hero Jermain Defoe

JERMAIN DEFOE has revealed he was an admirer of his new wife Donna from afar before they even met.

The former Rangers star tied the knot with his Glaswegian fiancee Donna Tierney at Cliveden House last week.

The couple officially met face-to-face for the first time in January 2021 after contacting one another over Instagram before that.

But Defoe admits he couldn't help but look at her "sexy" pictures online for years before they met, as his attraction grew towards her.

And the England hero believes his Rangers move was fate as it brought him closer to his new partner.

Speaking to , he said: “I never planned to get married by a certain age, but because I’ve been focused on my career for the past 22 years, it’s always been go, go, go.

“I always knew at some stage I was going to meet the right one and at the back end of my career, I go to Glasgow, play for Rangers and meet my future wife.

"We met years ago when I was playing for Sunderland and I messaged her on Instagram.

“I sent her DM. We had a general chit-chat but hadn’t spoken for ages.

“When I started playing for Rangers in 2019 I remembered Donna was from Glasgow and touched base with her again – I kept looking at her sexy pictures on Instagram.

"But we didn’t meet until January 2021 when Donna asked if I could give her a signed football shirt for a charity do.”

Defoe insists despite the initial attraction, he knew Donna was the one after he met her family in Glasgow while playing for the Ibrox side.

He added: “When she took me to her mum and dad’s house, just to see how she was with Olivia, and how she was with her mum, how close she was with her dad and her sister Charlene, just to see the love she gives her family and the love she gets back, it reminded me of the relationship I have with my family.

"When I saw that, and knowing how affectionate and loving she is anyway, that was it for me.”

Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page