A FORMER Southend United star has been announced as the latest contestant for the 2025 series of Dancing On Ice.

Former professional footballer and pundit Anton Ferdinand, who played for the Blues from 2016 until 2018 and was once captain, will join the ITV ice skating show as the seventh contestant to  be announced.

 

Sharing the announcement, Ferdinand shared on X: "So far out of my comfort zone but I’m here for it let’s go."

Anton Ferdinand when he joined Southend United in 2016Anton Ferdinand when he joined Southend United in 2016 (Image: File photo) Ferdinand was a product of the West Ham United academy and played for their senior team alongside lower league clubs including Southend United as well as Queens Park Rangers, Sunderland, and Reading. He has also played for England at under-21 level.

Ferdinand retired from professional football in July 2019. 

The 39-year-old pundit also shared the news on talkSPORT Radio today, as he said: "I decided to sign up for the show because it's a challenge first and foremost.

"I'm in a new phase of my life since retiring from football and the one of the things I've missed about playing is the structure it gives you.

"Dancing On Ice will give me that focus but I'm also doing it for my daughter because she loves dance and performing arts.

"My son always had my football to shout about so this will give my daughter and me something to share."

Last year, Holly Willoughby returned to present Dancing On Ice, this time with a new host in the form of Stephen Mulhern, with whom she previously presented ITV Saturday morning children’s show Ministry Of Mayhem.

Mulhern replaced Phillip Schofield after he resigned from ITV.