It was supposed to be the ultimate football fairytale. Two world-class athletes, one high-profile relationship, and a historic "couples transfer" that saw both move from the rainy Midlands of England to the sun-drenched glamour of Turin. But if you’ve been following the saga of Alisha Lehmann and Douglas Luiz, you know that the reality of their time at Juventus has been anything but a smooth ride.
Honestly, it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster. One minute they’re the faces of a new era in sports marketing, and the next, rumors of a second breakup are swirling through the Italian press. People love to talk about them, mostly because they represent something we’ve never really seen before in the professional game: two stars whose personal lives are as intertwined as their career paths.
The Historic Juventus Move That Changed Everything
Back in the summer of 2024, the football world stopped for a second when Juventus pulled off something unprecedented. They didn't just sign a new midfielder for the men's team; they signed his girlfriend for the women's team, too. Douglas Luiz made the jump from Aston Villa in a deal worth roughly £42 million, while Alisha Lehmann followed just a week later.
It was marketed as a package deal. A dream scenario. For a while, it seemed like it was working perfectly. They were sharing "Te amo" posts on Instagram and settling into a life in Italy that looked like a permanent vacation. But the transition to Serie A wasn't as easy as the photos made it look. While Lehmann was scoring on her debut and helping the Juventus Women toward another title, Luiz was struggling. He was getting called a "flop" by Gazzetta dello Sport after giving away penalties and finding himself pinned to the bench under manager Thiago Motta.
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The pressure of being a "celebrity couple" started to show. Luiz even told the media at one point that they are "just normal people" who go to dinner and try not to talk about football at home. But how normal can it be when you have 16 million people watching your every move?
Why Things Fell Apart (Again)
If you're looking for the exact moment the vibe shifted, it was probably around May 2025. Reports started leaking that the couple had split for the second time. They’d already broken up once back in 2022 before rekindling things in early 2024, so fans were hoping this was just another rough patch.
This time felt different, though. The rumors weren't just about "differences"; they were about their futures. Luiz was reportedly miserable in Italy and looking for a way back to the Premier League—with clubs like Nottingham Forest and even a shock return to Manchester City being mentioned. Meanwhile, Lehmann seemed to love Turin. She was winning trophies and building a massive brand in Italy.
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The cracks became public in a weirdly modern way. Lehmann stopped posting photos of Luiz. She even shared a screenshot of a fake "hoax" message and used a big red cross emoji when someone asked about him on social media. By the time Lehmann signed for FC Como Women on a three-year deal in August 2025, it was clear that the "package deal" era was officially over. She wanted to stay in Italy for her own career, specifically choosing an independent club focused solely on women's football. Luiz, on the other hand, seemed to have one foot out the door from the moment he arrived.
A Quick Reality Check on the Numbers
Lehmann has been very vocal about one specific thing: the pay gap. In an interview with La Repubblica, she pointed out that while they do the same job, Luiz earns significantly more. It’s a point that resonates with a lot of people.
- Douglas Luiz's Transfer: ~£42 million.
- Alisha Lehmann's Transfer: ~£42,000.
- The Lifestyle: They lived in a high-security villa in Turin, which was unfortunately robbed in late 2024, with thieves taking over £400,000 worth of watches and jewelry.
That robbery probably didn't help their stress levels. Losing that much personal property while you're already struggling to adapt to a new country is a lot for any couple to handle, let alone two people under a constant microscope.
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Life After the Split: Where Are They Now?
As of 2026, the two have gone their separate ways both personally and professionally. Alisha Lehmann has fully embraced her role as a pioneer for independent women’s clubs at Como. She’s still the most-followed female footballer on the planet, but she’s been trying to pivot the conversation back to what happens on the pitch. She even made a last-minute comeback to the Swiss national team for Euro 2025 after some initial injury doubts.
Douglas Luiz is in a different spot. His time at Juventus will likely be remembered as a "what if" moment. He’s a player with incredible talent, but sometimes the fit just isn't right. Whether he’s back in England or trying his luck in another European league, he’s clearly focused on reclaiming the form that made him a star at Villa Park.
It’s easy to judge from the outside, but their story is a reminder that professional sports and private romance are a tough mix. They tried to do something no one else had done—a literal "his and hers" transfer—and while it didn't last, it certainly changed how clubs look at the marketability of their players.
What You Can Learn From the Lehmann-Luiz Saga
If you’re following these two for more than just the gossip, there are some pretty interesting takeaways about the modern state of football.
- The Power of Individual Branding: Lehmann proved that a player’s personal brand can be as valuable (or more so) than their transfer fee. Her move to Como wasn't just about football; it was about her belief in a specific project for women's sports.
- The "Couples Transfer" Risk: Clubs might be more hesitant to sign partners in the future. If one player is unhappy or underperforming, it inevitably affects the other.
- Addressing the Pay Gap: Lehmann using her platform to highlight the massive salary disparity between her and Luiz (100,000 times more, by her estimation) has kept a necessary conversation going in the media.
If you want to keep up with their current stats or match schedules, checking the official Serie A Femminile and Premier League sites is your best bet for the most accurate, real-time data. Their social media feeds will give you the highlights, but the real story is always in the box scores and the team sheets.