Rio Ferdinand supports footballer son Tate, 19, with wife Kate as the teen signs for a talent agency backed by his dad after the couple fled Dubai

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Rio and Kate Ferdinand proudly supported Rio’s son, Tate, as he signed a contract with a talent agency on Thursday, sitting on either side of him during the signing.

Following escalating conflict in the Middle East – specifically a war between the U.S., Israel, and Iran last month – a couple recently left Dubai due to growing concerns for their safety.

Rio Ferdinand had to return to London to record his podcast, while Kate wanted to spend Mother’s Day with her family.

Okay, so I’ve been tracking them constantly, and even though they’re supposedly going back to the UAE soon, they stayed in London! Can you believe it? They were there for Tate’s signing – my Tate, who’s only 19! – and I’m just…living for it. It means so much to me that they support him like this. I was there, of course, and it was magical.

Tate is the son of Rio and his wife, Rebecca Ellison, who sadly passed away in 2015 at the age of 34 after fighting breast cancer.

Since starting her relationship with Rio, Kate has been a stepmother to his children. Together, they also have two young children of their own: five-year-old Cree and two-year-old Shae.

Kate has talked about how close she is to her stepchildren and how much she misses her older stepson and stepdaughter since moving to Dubai last year.

Lorenz and Tate chose to remain in the UK to continue playing football, making their time apart particularly difficult.

Tate is a defender currently playing for the Brighton & Hove Albion youth academy.

She explained that it’s been particularly difficult because her family has always been close, and adjusting to life without them is a major change.

It was natural to see Kate and Rio there for Tate when he signed his contract with New Era Global Sports Management, offering their support.

Founded by former footballers Jamie Moralee and Peter Smith, this UK agency represents and manages professional athletes, with a primary focus on football players.

Tate’s father, Rio, serves as a mentor and ambassador for the company, which is based in London, and he also owns a substantial part of it.

Oh my gosh, it was everything! Seeing Rio there with his son, signing the official papers… I nearly cried! And Kate was right beside him, beaming! The screen behind them said ‘Welcome Tate Ferdinand’ and honestly, my heart just melted. It felt like witnessing history, a perfect family moment! I’ve screenshotted it like a million times, I swear!

She also said: ‘So proud of you @TateFerdinand. Signing with @neweraglobalsports’. 

The couple relocated to Dubai with their family, including the footballer’s daughter, Tia, age 13, from a previous marriage, and their two children together.

However, his two eldest sons Lorenz, 19, and Tate, 17, remained in the UK.

The reality TV star has been enjoying her time in the UAE, but she’s also feeling homesick. She admits to getting emotional and really misses her family and close friends, which has been difficult for her.

I’m confident this is the best move for my younger kids and our family is happy with where we are. My older sons are pursuing their football dreams, and I support that – if they weren’t, they’d be here with us.

It’s really difficult because we’re a close family and have always relied on each other, so this change is a big one for us.

However, this month she made a U-turn on her comments.

Kate described what it’s like living in Dubai during Ramadan, explaining that her children have shortened school days. They start at 8:45 AM and are picked up at 1:00 PM, essentially attending school for only half the day.

I find the constant change refreshing and surprisingly peaceful. Although, things definitely get more hectic when the kids return after lunch – it’s a completely new experience for me.

It feels really different being somewhere with so many religions and cultures. You learn and grow a lot from experiencing that kind of diversity.

My kids are exposed to experiences in Dubai that they wouldn’t get back home in the UK. While they might learn about these things there, they’re actually living them here, and that’s what I appreciate most.

Ferdinand shared a photo on social media on Saturday showing him shirtless, relaxing on a sunny patio with a Super Bock beer. He captioned it with a comment about being pleased that both Liverpool and Chelsea failed to win their games, impacting their chances of finishing in the top four of the league.

The former Manchester United and England star finished his message with two beer glass emojis and a cheerful ‘Happy Saturday, everyone!’

The star snapped the selfie at his villa in the Algarve, near Quinta do Lago. He uses the villa to host summer football camps and spent a family vacation there with Kate and their children last year.

Rio, formerly a commentator for TNT, has two sons, Lorenz, 19, and Tate, 17, who both continue to live in the UK.

As a lifestyle expert, I often talk about adapting to change, and it’s something my clients – and I – experience all the time! I recently moved, and honestly, while I am enjoying the new adventure, I’ve found myself really missing home. It’s totally normal to feel that pull, even when you’re excited about what’s next. It’s a bittersweet feeling, wanting to embrace the new while still cherishing the familiar.

I’m feeling really sad about being away from my older sons. It’s hard adjusting to the distance since they’re pursuing their football dreams. While I know moving was the best choice for my younger children and our family is happy here, I still miss the older boys a lot.

They’ve chosen a different path, and that’s their decision. It’s just difficult for us because we’re a close-knit family who have always been there for each other, and this change is a big adjustment for everyone.

I was so interested to hear her talk about what it’s like experiencing Ramadan in Dubai! She explained that her kids have a different school schedule during the holy month – they start at 8:45am and are picked up at 1pm, so it’s basically half days for them. It sounds like a lovely way to balance school with the traditions of Ramadan.

I find the constant change refreshing and surprisingly peaceful. Though, things definitely get more hectic when the kids return after lunch – it’s a whole new experience for me.

Living in a place with diverse religions and cultures is a really enriching experience. You learn and grow so much when you’re exposed to different ways of life.

My kids are experiencing things here in Dubai that they wouldn’t just learn about in school back in the UK – they’re actually living it, and that’s what I appreciate most about being here.

Kate, known from the show TOWIE, recently explained on her Mother’s Day podcast that the episode was recorded on February 26th, before the recent events in the Middle East. She also shared this information on her Instagram page.

As mothers and creators of a podcast about family, we’re deeply saddened by the recent tragic events and stand with everyone impacted.

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2026-03-26 20:05