Ashley Cole in secret relationship with Annie Cooper

Footballer Ashley Cole has been revealed to be in a month-long secret relationship with Swedish-born beauty Annie Cooper.

Cole, 30, has been trying to keep his relationship with Cooper, 27, under wraps, but he let his guard down to party with her and team-mates after a 2-0 win over Manchester City on March 20.

And to avoid photographers, he got a car to ferry the actress and a pal between London clubs Whisky Mist and Jet Black, and the driver later took her to Cole's mansion.

Cooper, who has appeared in Corrie and hit movie Kick-Ass, joined the Channel 4 soap last month, coincidentally to play a wannabe WAG.

"Ashley was enjoying being single but was taken by Annie after a friend introduced them. He didn't want it all coming out as it's early days," The Sun quoted a source as saying.

"He wanted to be confident Annie could handle the attention," the source added.