Darts star Stephen Bunting swapped Bahrain for FC St Helens' Windleshaw Sports as he captured a first glimpse at new signing Jefferson Montero. Fresh off his Masters-winning performance in the Middle East, Bunting was pictured with the former Premier League winger as he trained with his teammates for the first-time.

Hours before The Bullet beat Gerwyn Price in Bahrain, the North West Counties Premier Division side confirmed the arrival of Montero, 35. Bunting saw off the former world number one to win his first World Series title, in what was his first World Series event in 11 years, in an 8-4 victory.

On Tuesday, he continued to show support for his local non-league football team - who are in the ninth tier for the first time in their 10-year history after winning the Division One North last term. Bunting is a regular at Windleshaw Sports and was there on Tuesday with Sky Sports cameras in attendance to witness Montero train for the first time since signing.

The St Helens darting icon has enjoyed an astronomical rise in the last 12 months after becoming a fan favourite on the circuit before replicating his form in the World Darts Championships, ultimately losing to eventual winner Luke Littler in the semi-final.

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Stephen Bunting net worth 2025

After a superb 2024, Bunting went into the new year on the back of a lucrative Worlds run where he banked £100,000 following his run to the final four. One of the highlights in his spectacular year came when he toppled Michael van Gerwen 11-7 at The Masters in Milton Keynes, February 2024.

Prior to his triumph in Bahrain, the PDC Order of Merit had Bunting sitting fifth for his performance over the last two years - earning £536,000 in prize money in the process. In the first televised darts event of the year, his win saw him earn £30,000 after overcoming Luke Humphries and Chris Dobey.

Bunting's performances earned him a place on the Premier League Darts bill, which will see the sports' best players compete across the United Kingdom and Europe in 17 nights of round-robins - with the Fazakerley-born star enjoying a homecoming on April 24.

The winner of each week will receive £10,000 while the winner of the whole competition, decided on finals night, will receive £275,000. The runner-up will score £125,000 and the semi-finalists are due £85,000 each, as well as those finishing between fifth and eighth banking between £75,000 and £60,000.

David Guetta anthem

As is the case with every World Darts Championships, a hero emerges. Luke Littler encapsulated a nation in 2022-23 as a 16-year-old while Bunting took the mantle last year.

He captured adoring fans' hearts with his catchy walk-on song 'Titanium' produced by the world-renowned French DJ David Guetta featuring Australian pop star Sia.

Bunting was forced to change his walk-on song after using 'Bird Is The Word', aka Surfin' Bird, by The Trashmen - the 1963 hit that reached new heights after featuring on adult comedy Family Guy.

“The Bird Is The Word, I got paid a lot of money to change my walk on to that," he said speaking to Wayne Mardle on the YouTube show Club 501.

“It was all well and good at the time but I was more nervous in thinking more about the walk-on than I was about playing. So, It sort of affected my game."

Non-league football and Liverpool support

Bunting is a lifelong Liverpool fan and saw his hopes of parading the World Championships trophy at Anfield, prior to their Premier League clash with Manchester United, dashed when he was knocked out of the competition by Luke Littler.

"It would be fantastic," he said. "That'd be unbelievable. Just to shove that trophy down their throats as well."

But in his spare time, he takes in the action at the Stripes' Windleshaw Sports. Bunting will have enjoyed seeing the success of his local side, who too have enjoyed a monumental rise in the last 10 years.