Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Andre Gray’s ‘hell’ after Little Mix star shunned Saudi

On Aug 30, 2024

Leigh-Anne Pinnock opened up about the bumps in her newlywed life with ex-Premier League striker Andre Gray after he moved to Saudi Arabia.

Despite saying ‘I do’ last June following six years together, former Little Mix star Leigh-Anne and her footballer beau have faced their fair share of hurdles in the first 12 months as a married couple. That’s because Gray agreed to join Saudi Pro League team Al-Riyadh in September 2023, but Pinnock decided against uprooting her life and joining him in the Middle East.

Gray began his career at Shrewsbury Town before prolific spells at Luton Town and Brentford, stepping up to the Premier League with Burnley and Watford. After a brief spell with Greek side Aris, the 33-year-old was snapped up by Al-Riyadh while pop star Pinnock chose to stay put to focus on her solo career as her husband jetted off – but living miles apart was not easy for their relationship.

“We have a long-distance relationship. He lives in Saudi, he plays football there,” Pinnock said. “So for the last two years, we’ve been apart, basically, seeing each other for maybe two days a month. It’s been hell to be honest.”

Gray penned a £100,000-a-week contract with Al-Riyadh last summer but is now a free agent after his deal came to an end last month. While Pinnock has enjoyed the time they have managed to spend together, the singer is aware that Gray could likely be on the move again.

“Then family – valued, beautiful time. But we don’t know [what’s next],” she added. “But that’s the thing about being with a footballer, you don’t know where you’re going to be. I can’t move with him anywhere because obviously I can’t have a career where he’s going to go. I have to be local to home.”

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Gray and Pinnock at the Notting Hill Carnival this summer
(Image: Sama Kai/Dave Benett/Getty Image)

Pinnock’s journey to stardom began in 2011 when she tried her luck on X-Factor as a solo act, only to face an early setback by failing her first bootcamp challenge. However, fate had other plans as she was grouped with future band member Jade Thirlwall in a trio named Orion.

Meanwhile, Perrie Edwards and Jesy Nelson were paired in another group, Faux Pas. Both groups faced elimination but got a second chance from the judges who brought them back to form a four-piece, initially called Rhythmix, which later became Little Mix.

They made history as the first girl group to win X-Factor, bagged 58 awards, released six albums, and after a decade of success, took a break in 2022 to pursue solo endeavours. Pinnock dropped her first solo EP ‘No Hard Feelings’ in May 2024, boasting the hit single ‘Stealin’ Love’.

The 32-year-old star has gigs lined up in Birmingham, London and Manchester for October. On the other hand, Gray is waiting to see who his next club will be. As a free agent, Gray is able to sign for teams beyond the transfer deadline.