Wayne Rooney is reportedly making a major move into football punditry, with Match Of The Day lining him up to join the presenting team after Gary Lineker’s exit.
According to reports, the former England striker has signed a two-year deal with the BBC worth a reported £800,000, marking a new chapter for the 39-year-old as he steps away from football management.
Rooney is expected to become a regular fixture on the football highlights show and play a major role in the BBC’s coverage of the 2026 World Cup in the US, Canada, and Mexico.
A source told The Sun: “Wayne is a natural broadcaster; he is warm, witty, and forensically knowledgeable about all aspects of the game. He still has a deep love for football and also gets on well with everyone on both sides of the camera.”
The insider added: “He is eminently likeable and has impressed on his outings to date—viewers have also really taken to him, which has been clear from social media commentary.
“Wayne will be a key part of next year’s World Cup coverage, which is a massive coup, and will provide some much-needed expertise on Match of the Day in the wake of Gary’s departure.”
The signing is reportedly being celebrated within the BBC, with Director of Sport Alex Kay-Jelski among those “incredibly excited to get him on board”.
An official announcement is expected later this month, according to the report.
Talks between Rooney and the BBC were first rumoured earlier this year, following his exit from Plymouth Argyle.
His brief tenure at the Championship club ended after just one win in 14 matches, prompting speculation that he would turn his focus to media work.
Initial reports suggested he could earn up to £200,000 a year, depending on the number of appearances he made, but that figure now appears to have climbed significantly.
After proving himself in previous guest appearances, Rooney’s next step into punditry feels like a natural progression. The new role also marks another move into TV for the Rooney family.
Earlier this year, Coleen Rooney reportedly signed a £10 million deal with Disney+ for a fly-on-the-wall documentary series featuring Wayne and their four sons; Kai, Klay, Kit and Cass, further cementing their growing presence on screen.
News of Rooney’s potential new role comes after Lineker left Match Of The Day after 26 years in May following a social media row after he shared a post about Zionism which featured a depiction of a rat, historically an antisemitic insult.
Lineker, who issued an unreserved apology, will no longer front the BBC’s coverage of the 2026 World Cup or the FA Cup next season, with his final appearance on Match Of The Day airing on May 25.
The Standard has contacted BBC and a rep for Wayne Rooney for comment.
