Ross Barkley swims the Mediterranean with bikini-clad girlfriend Katherine Pilkington in Capri

Ross Barkley was given a rare run out on Tuesday, but the forgotten Chelsea midfielder was nowhere near a football pitch as he kicked off his pre-season break in Italy. 

The footballer was accompanied by stunning girlfriend Katherine Pilkington while venturing out for a cruise off the coast of picturesque Capri, and the couple wasted no time in stripping off for a swim in the azure Mediterranean waters. 

Barkley, whose appearances for the Blues have been infrequent over the last two seasons, showed off his rugged physique after pulling off his top and joining his accounts executive girlfriend in the sea. 

Rest and relaxation: Ross Barkley was given a rare run out on Tuesday, but the forgotten Chelsea midfielder was nowhere near a football pitch as he kicked off his pre-season break with girlfriend Katherine Pilkington in Italy

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Making waves: tTe couple wasted no time in stripping off for a swim in the azure Mediterranean waters

Katherine appeared to have already caught the sun, and she showed off her bronzed skin tone in an orange bikini that served to accentuate her slender frame. 

The pair appeared to be making the most of a welcome overseas break, Barley’s second with Katherine first since publicly confirming their relationship during a joint appearance in February.

With their boat offering a prime view of the sweeping southern Italian coastline, the couple were seen reclining alongside one another before leaping from the stern for a bracing swim.  

Muscular: Barkley, whose appearances for the Blues have been infrequent over the last two seasons, showed off his rugged physique after pulling off his top and joining his accounts executive girlfriend in the sea

Reaching out: Katherine grabbed a beach towel as the couple idled at the rear of their yacht on Tuesday morning 

All yours: Katherine handed the towel to her footballer boyfriend as they dried off after taking a dip in the ocean 

Barkley was seen for the first time with new girlfriend Katherine as they enjoyed a romantic trip to the Saatchi Gallery in London’s Sloane Square on Valentine’s Day. 

Katherine is an account executive for the The Social PR and works alongside soap star Scott Thomas on events and counts Love Island’s Ellie Brown as one of her best friends. 

The pair have recently come back from a trip to New York together where they shared images from the same tourist attractions.