Wes Nelson says he rejected Simon Cowell’s record deal offer after X Factor

Love Island’s Wes Nelson has seen his career go from strength to strength since his villa stint in 2018.

Alongside club nights and an expanding property portfolio, the 22-year-old even dipped his toe into the world of music, appearing on X Factor : Celebrity last year.

He formed the group No Love Lost alongside Love Island mates Samira Mighty, Zara McDermott and Eyal Booker.

And despite impressing enough to make it to the live shows, the gang eventually lost out and had to leave the show.

And now Wes, who’s main focus has become his flourishing music career, has claimed that X Factor head honcho Simon Cowell offered him a record deal as a solo act with his company, Syco Entertainment.

Wes was recently overjoyed to announce that he’d signed on the dotted line with EMI Records, and has been teasing upcoming singles and collaborations since.

“Simon, Sony and Syco were keeping their eye on me very closely after X Factor,” he told Daily Star Online.

“They are a great team and I spoke to them on Thursday and they were wishing me luck for the single.

“They were the first people to show an interest and for me it was motivating.”

Wes goes on to say he turned down the deal because he wanted to find his feet first and, more importantly, maintain creative control over his music.

He also thanked the X Factor for giving him that boost to know he could forge ahead with his musical ambitions.

Mirror Online has reached out to Simon’s reps for comment.

Wes recently told that he’d managed to make it into the millionaires’ club by the time he celebrated his 21st birthday.

The lothario credits his bags of cash to “wise investments”, following a number of high-profile small screen appearances like X Factor and Dancing On Ice.

He rocketed to fame during Love Island’s 2018 series, during which he eventually coupled up with Megan Barton-Hanson.

The pair made it to the final, coming fourth, but split in January of the following year.

“I was a millionaire by the age of 21,” Wes said, “And that’s not being a show off or anything, but it’s wise investments and understanding this life doesn’t last forever.”

Wes added to  The Sun  : “I’ve been lucky to have so many shows under my belt, and I’m super grateful for that.

“I have a passive income and generational wealth, so my children, whenever they come about, they’re not going to have to work again.

“I don’t have to work again.”

He explained that he was able to avoid falling into a boozy, party-led lifestyle following his meteoric rise to household-name status.