Ex-Liverpool star opens up on addiction that 'destroyed relationship with my kids'

Former Liverpool midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has opened up about his addiction to sleeping pills, which he said 'destroyed' his relationship with his three children

Former Liverpool midfielder Jonjo Shelvey(Image: Getty Images)

Former Liverpool midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has revealed his struggle with sleeping pill addiction.

The 33-year-old, currently playing for United Arab Emirates outfit Arabian Falcons, disclosed how the dependency destroyed his relationship with his three children. The addiction began when Shelvey, who spent three years at Anfield after moving from Charlton back in 2010, relocated to Turkey after joining Caykur Rizespor in September 2023. He resided alone in Rize, a modest coastal town in the eastern Black Sea Region, whilst his three children and wife remained back home in England.

He wed former S Club Juniors performer Daisy Evans in 2015, with comedian Jimmy Carr providing stand-up entertainment at their wedding reception, reports the Mirror.

Shelvey delivered solid performances during his stint at Rizespor, featuring in 33 matches across all competitions and netting three goals.

He moved to Turkish club Eyupspor in August 2024 but was released in early January 2025 before returning to England.

"I went to Turkey for 18 months and lived by myself and it was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life," Shelvey told the Under The Cosh podcast.

"I ended up becoming addicted to sleeping tablets because I'd just got home from training and to pass time. I'd think, 'what am I going to do now?'

Jonjo Shelvey with his children in January 2023(Image: Getty Images)

"I was in a city that was a Muslim-orientated city. There were like three restaurants. To pass time I'd just end up taking three or four sleeping tablets and I'd pass out until the next morning for training."

When questioned about his decision to take the tablets, Shelvey responded: "Just to pass the time."

Chris Brown, former Sunderland and Blackburn forward and part of the three-man presenting team, delved deeper: "And it'd become an addiction. Just an escape?"

Shelvey confirmed: "Yeah, and then I moved to Istanbul. Istanbul was a bit more vibrant city. You could go out and... But I was there by myself again. So I'm not one to go out by myself. I hate being alone.

"I thought to myself, if I could go one way or the other, I could go and drink myself to pass time. Drink's no good for a footballer. It's not a good tool.

"But I thought instead of drinking I'd carry on with the sleeping tablets. So that would be a way of passing my time.

"Do you know what I mean? So I'm not putting on fat drinking pints in a pub. So I'd go back to my apartment to train, sleeping tablets."

Shelvey then chose to outline his daily routine, which involved having his last meal around 3pm, then sleeping until midnight before taking more sleeping pills.

He explained: "I'd get home at one, half one. Three o'clock I'd have a bit of food, and that'd be my last meal. And then I'd take three or four sleeping tablets and then wake up about 12 o'clock at night, pop three or four more.

Jonjo Shelvey with his family in 2019(Image: Newcastle United)

"And then wake up for training the next day. To be honest, it destroyed my relationship with my kids. I was never present. This is the first time I have spoken about it and I was lucky that my missus is such a good woman that she kicked it out of me."

His wife's group, S Club Juniors, emerged following the triumph of pop sensation S Club 7 and boasted their own BBC television programme, I Dream, alongside chart-topping singles including Automatic High and New Direction. The band called it quits in 2005, following nearly four years performing together.

Shelvey completed the latter half of the 2024/25 campaign at Burnley before choosing to depart England once more, this time joining UAE outfit Arabian Falcons in September 2025.