Jermaine Pennant let his hair down in Mexico on Tuesday after jetting to the North American country for his birthday and his second overseas trip of the year.
The jet-setting former footballer, who celebrated his 37th birthday on January 15th, looked relaxed as he topped up his tan on picturesque Tulum beach.
With travel corridors to the United Kingdom now closed amid a spike in coronavirus infections, Pennant looked unfazed by the prospect of quarantine upon his return while making the most of his tropical surroundings.
Good times: Jermaine Pennant let his hair down in Mexico on Tuesday after jetting to the North American country for his birthday
Removing his shirt, the ex-Liverpool midfielder revealed a heavily tattooed upper-body as he reclined in a pair of colourful Bermuda shorts.
Pennant followed a family Christmas in his native Nottingham with two consecutive overseas trips despite repeated warnings regarding air travel and foreign holidays amid the ongoing health crisis.
The former sportsman, now a TV and radio pundit, had initially spent New Year’s Eve in Dubai before jetting to coastal Mexico ahead of his birthday.
Don’t mind me: The jet-setting former footballer, who celebrated his 37th birthday on January 15th, looked relaxed as he topped up his tan on picturesque Tulum beach
Well inked: Removing his shirt, Pennant revealed a heavily tattooed upper-body as he reclined in a pair of colourful Bermuda shorts
This is the life: The retired sportsman checked his phone as he stretched out on Tuesday
Pennant has taken to Instagram in recent weeks to give fans a glimpse into his travels in both countries.
On Friday, he celebrated his birthday as he topped up his tan while at the beach and simply told his followers: ‘A sunny January is the way forward.’
The following day Pennant posed for snaps while enjoying an outing at Taboo Tulum, a popular restaurant on the Mexican coast.
Not bothered: With travel corridors to the United Kingdom now closed amid a spike in coronavirus infections, Pennant looked unfazed by the prospect of quarantine upon his return
Travel: Pennant jetted off to Mexico for his birthday on Friday after enjoying a trip to Dubai despite ongoing travel restrictions
Earlier in the month Pennant shared updates from Dubai, claiming he missed his flight home on purpose – seemingly because of the UK being plunged into a third lockdown.
Captioning a photo, he wrote: ‘Damn Missed my flight didn’t i #ooops #slightly onpurpose (sic).’
His last post in Dubai was shared on January 8, with shaggy haired Brits unable to get a haircut as a result of ongoing lockdown restrictions given an opportunity to check out his new skin fade.
Five days later, on January 13th, he shared a selfie and claimed he was back in England.
Trip: The former professional footballer has taken to Instagram in recent weeks to give fans a glimpse into his travels in Dubai (pictured)
Delay: Pennant claimed he missed his flight back to the UK on January 3rd on purpose, seemingly because England had been plunged into a third lockdown
When a follower asked him about travelling to Mexico and said the country ‘doesn’t know what’s coming’, Jermaine responded: ‘I’m at home…️ would love wish I was [in Mexico].’
However, despite his claims, just two days later he had travelled to Mexico where he took his latest slew of sun-soaked snaps.
Under the government’s latest national lockdown rules, which is now in effect, holidays are banned as international travel is only permitted for a strict number of reasons such as for work.
Within the UK, domestic holidays are also banned as you must stay at home at all times except for a limited number of ‘reasonable excuses’ such as shopping for essentials or work.
Back home: On January 13th, he shared a selfie where he claimed he was back at home in the UK, and Pennant claimed he was not going to Mexico when a follower asked him about the trip
Jetting off: However, despite his claims, just two days later he had travelled to Mexico as on Friday he shared a selfie while celebrating his birthday by being on the beach
The Government has said if you need to travel you should stay local – meaning avoiding travelling outside of your village, town or the part of a city where you live – and look to reduce the number of journeys you make overall.
Earlier this month, it was revealed that travellers returning to the UK from the UAE will have to quarantine following a 52 per cent surge in the number of COVID -19 cases there – an undoubted shock for the influencer-packed city.
All travel corridors to and from the UK were closed on January 18, and new rules require international travellers to have a negative PCR test before arriving in England, and to quarantine for 10 days upon their return.
Enjoying himself: The next day he posed for snaps while enjoying an outing at Taboo Tulum, a popular restaurant on the Mexican coast
Festive season: Last month, Pennant spent Christmas Day with his family in Nottingham