It was only just added to the platform but Netflix viewers are divided over the show

Lloyd Jones currently plays for Charlton in the Championship (Image: Peacock)

Viewers of Netflix are divided over a recently launched dating reality programme that features a Selling Sunset star’s well-known former partner.

The programme in question, Love Undercover, was only made available on the platform within the past few days. Nevertheless, it was initially aired back in 2024 on the Peacock network in the US.

Its concept centres on a small group of British, European and South American footballers who are situated in a house together in the United States with the goal of discovering romance.

The synopsis explains: “Pro athletes have it all: extreme wealth, adoring fans, lavish lifestyles. Fame and fortune can come at the price of true love.

“For them, finding someone who loves them for who they truly are, not what they have, is harder than going pro.

“The ballers decide to leave it all behind for the one place on Earth that truly values what’s on the inside: Los Angeles. In this modern-day fairytale meets buddy comedy, these five international soccer stars travel to America in hopes of finding true love with women unsuspecting of their status , reports the Mirror.

“The ballers quickly learn that at Players HQ, the women have possession, and egos get bruised as the athletes find that without soccer, it’s harder to score. If they find true love, they must reveal their identity to their partner.”

Whilst the footballers are meant to be unknown in America, at least one might ring a bell with British viewers. The line-up includes Mexican legend Marco Fabian, who claimed Olympic gold at London 2012 and at 36 now competes in indoor football stateside.

Also featuring is fellow Mexican Sebastián Fassi, a goalkeeper currently plying his trade in Spain’s third division. Completing the cast are Championship club Charlton defender Lloyd Jones, former Premier League midfielder turned radio pundit Jamie O’Hara, and ex-Liverpool player and Dutch international Ryan Babel, who last featured in Turkey before hanging up his boots in November 2024.

Ex-Premier League player turned TalkSport pundit stars on the show (Image: Peacock)

Early on in the programme, whilst discussing previous romances, Babel discloses that he was formerly romantically linked with Selling Sunset personality Amanza Smith. Yet it appears viewers are divided over whether the programme hits the mark.

Online reviews for the series remain sparse, though one Netflix subscriber who stumbled upon it shared on social media: “Just discovered Love Undercover on Netflix, the most cringe and awkward show ever. I usually like a good trash tv show, but this is such a car crash!”.

They weren’t the only critic, with others questioning the casting choices, highlighting the peculiarity of the concept centring on women dating international footballers when only two participants remain active in the sport. Nevertheless, some viewers do suggest giving the series a chance, as one person maintained: “If that’s your thing, Love Undercover is a fun and surprisingly funny spin on the genre.”

Another viewer revealed it was the first reality programme they had ever viewed and remarked: “This was a fun concept so I tried it and then loved it and couldn’t stop watching. The genuineness of the guys and some of the girls was lovely to watch, it was a refresher of my own dating mistakes and I really loved watching and hope there’s a Season 2.”

Whilst one viewer observed: “It’s kind of interesting to watch. I actually think the show did a great job with their choice of players. They chose a couple of lower tier ‘face’ men as eye candy, and 3 players of notable acclaim if you’ve been an American fan of soccer for 10 yrs or more. Any more famous and they would’ve been much more recognisable in LA.”