A FORMER Colchester United footballer is swapping his boots for flip flops after signing for this summer’s edition of Love Island.

Tyrique Hyde will be hoping to find love in the famous villa when it returns for its tenth series on Monday, June 5 on ITV2.

The 23-year-old from Essex was once on the books of Colchester United but joined Dulwich Hamlet in October 2020 following his release by the U’s.

He had a spell at Maldon and Tiptree before joining National League South outfit Dartford but is now hoping to score off the pitch this summer.

Echo: Confident - Tyrique HydeConfident - Tyrique Hyde (Image: ITV)

Echo: Announced - Tyrique will join the villa as one of this summer's original boysAnnounced - Tyrique will join the villa as one of this summer's original boys (Image: ITV)He'll be gracing the hallowed turf of the famous villa where he says he will "bring vibes, confidence, good energy and honesty."

Tyrique added: "I don’t sit on the fence, if I have an opinion I will speak up. I’m also not afraid to go after what I want."

He is deaf in one ear and grew up with former islander Toby Aromolaran.

Love Island fans will be given the chance to vote for which contestants will be paired up before the new summer series launches.

Viewers will be given the power to choose who is coupled up with who in the first episode.

Host Maya Jama told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “A very big surprise – the public has all the power. So for the first episode, you guys are going to decide who couples up, you vote and we listen.”

She added: “A big decision to make, as soon as you see them.”

In previous series the contestants have made their own decisions on who to couple up with, but the public were given the power to decide for the first time last year.

Jama said: “You’ll see them, they get announced this morning.

“So you can kind of make your notes if you want. start jotting down who you think should be together. And when it starts, off you go.”

The contestants are being unveiled on the Love Island Twitter account on Monday.