Manchester City is rallying behind defender Ruben Dias after a burglary at his newly acquired mansion in Cheshire. The incident comes as Dias prepares to make his comeback from injury next week.

The break-in occurred while Dias was away, as Manchester City triumphed over Galatasaray on Wednesday evening. The 28-year-old, who shares the property with Love Island presenter Maya Jama, aged 31, was not at home during the intrusion.

Cheshire Police have confirmed that several items were stolen and are actively investigating the incident. This burglary adds to a worrying trend, as former Manchester City players Raheem Sterling, Jack Grealish, and Riyad Mahrez have previously been targeted in the same area.

Reports suggest that the burglars stole a considerable amount of valuables, including designer clothing, jewellery, and electronics. The couple had only recently begun residing in the luxury mansion, which is reputedly rented for £20,000 a month and was acquired through an Omaze prize draw.

Upon returning home, Dias discovered the ransacked state of his house, prompting him to alert the authorities. The couple is understandably distraught over the invasion of their home.

Manchester City are supporting Ruben Dias after he and Maya Jama had their home burgled

Dias and Jama recently moved into their first home  and were excited to live together 

They were left ‘very upset’ after their Omaze prize draw home was ransacked, but neither was in the house 

A source close to the couple expressed their distress, stating, “They are devastated. This house marks the first home they have shared as a couple, making it particularly significant to them. Fortunately, neither was present during the burglary, but the violation of their personal sanctuary has been deeply unsettling.”

They added to The Sun: ‘Maya was very proud to move into her first home with Ruben and took lots of videos and pictures while in the house which she posted on her social media.

‘Previously in their relationship, she was back and forth from London and he was living in a city centre flat. That’s why this property means so much to them.’

Dias has been missing for almost a month with a hamstring injury but City assistant manager Pep Lijnders, filling in for Pep Guardiola at their weekly press conference, confirmed that the Portugal international is due back in training, serving as a boost for the title chasers.

‘We try to support him as a club of course,’ Lijnders said. ‘I didn’t speak with him personally but Ruben will come back Monday to team training. These are the things you don’t want to happen. We will support him and let’s see how it goes from there.’

A spokesperson for Cheshire Police told Daily Mail: ‘Shortly after 11.10pm on Wednesday 28 January, police received reports of a burglary at an address in Woodbrook Road, Alderley Edge.’

They added: ‘Officers attended and found entry had been made to the property and a number of items had been stolen. Enquiries are currently ongoing and anyone with any information should contact Cheshire Police on 101 or through the website.’

The Daily Mail has contacted Maya and Ruben’s representatives for comment.

The stunning 6,300 sq ft four-bedroom home boasts panoramic views, landscaped gardens, a luxury indoor leisure suite – and a sophisticated security system

The targeted attack happened on Wednesday evening, while Manchester City star Dias, 28, was playing against Galatasaray

The couple spent their second Christmas together and shared their snaps on Instagram

The couple were spotted viewing the ultra-modern property which was an Omaze prize-draw mansion in Alderley Edge back in November.

It was won by mother Emily Ward with a £25 ticket and she is still listed as the property owner.

The stunning 6,300 sq ft four-bedroom home boasts panoramic views, landscaped gardens, a luxury indoor leisure suite – and a sophisticated security system.

The mansion was reportedly available to rent for around £20,000 a month, but is also on the market for sale.

Safety advisors recently told of the perils facing celebrities in Cheshire, especially the so-called ‘Golden Triangle’ featuring the county’s most expensive homes.

The Golden Triangle – five miles across and nicknamed after its three ‘points’ of Alderley Edge, Prestbury and Wilmslow – has long been a popular lure especially for Premier League footballers.

Prestbury has streets with the highest average property value in northern England, £1.2million for homes in Withinlee Road, while the region’s highest-priced home put up for sale was one in Alderley Edge advertised for £15million.

Golden Triangle residents have included David and Victoria Beckham, Wayne and Coleen Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kyle Walker and current Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk.

Other footballers in the area who have fallen victim to burglars in recent years include Jack Grealish.

The couple are believed to have met after the TV presenter caught the Portuguese player’s eye when they met at the European Music Awards (EMAs) in November 2024 

‘Maya was very proud to move into her first home with Ruben and took lots of videos and pictures while in the house which she posted on her social media,’ an insider said 

He spoke out after his £5.6million mansion in Chelford was raided on Boxing Day in 2023, when thieves stole £1million worth of jewellery while his family were inside watching him on television playing for City against his current club.

Police sources suggested the gang responsible had ‘inside information’ and could have been following removal men helping Grealish and girlfriend Sasha Attwood move in days beforehand.

That crime came a year after the Cheshire mansion of Little Mix star Perrie Edwards and ex-Liverpool footballer fiancé Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was hit by raiders making off with jewellery and designer handbags worth thousands.

The gang used a ladder to gain entry to an upstairs window – the same tactic as later feared to have been used at Grealish’s home.

Ex-West Ham United striker Nicky Maynard’s home was targeted last year, while he and his wife Tara were dining nearby in the Cheshire town of Nantwich with their two sons.

A return to training could see Dias put himself in contention for a trip to Liverpool next Sunday, while Lijnders suggested that Jeremy Doku may miss that game.

Doku picked up a calf injury in midweek, a similar knock to that he suffered from before Christmas, and will not be part of the squad to face Tottenham on Sunday.

The Belgium winger missed three weeks then but Lijnders is hopeful that the latest issue will not keep him out that long.

Maya shared this Love Island snap on Thursday evening, a day after the targeted attack took place 

‘The last one took 18 days, I presume this will be a little shorter,’ Guardiola’s No 2 added. ‘We have to take time but Jeremy is a robust player.

‘Arsenal have to feel us and that is only possible by winning football matches. The Premier League is insane at the moment. The aggression of all the teams, the quality up front of all the teams. We know that each team can create upsets.’