Ex-Newcastle star had no income and was on benefits but has finally found peace 10 years on

Former Newcastle United midfielder Gael Bigirimana has opened up about his journey from Premier League football to relying on benefit income, and how he eventually found stability in Northern Ireland. After rising through Coventry City and moving to Newcastle in 2012, Bigirimana faced significant personal and financial challenges in early 2020 following a collapsed move to Croatia and losing money in a fraudulent Ponzi scheme investment.

The 32-year-old Burundi international rebuilt his career with spells in Scotland, Tanzania, and Northern Ireland. Bigirimana now captains Northern Irish side Dungannon Swifts, where he led the team to an Irish Cup final victory in 2025 and launched his own youth coaching business.