Prepare to be jealous: Ed Sheeran is ‘getting close’ to this Irish star

Ed Sheeran has his heart set on a new woman, and it's someone very close to home.

The singer has been friends with Fade St cast member Louise Johnston for years, and now it seems romance could be blossoming for the pair. Louise, who currently works in marketing for an Irish company, is "constantly in touch" with Ed, a source told the Sunday Independent yesterday. 

"Louise and Ed have been friends for years but now they have become a lot closer than that…he is coming here soon for a gig in Dublin and they will be able to catch up then," the insider revealed. 

Ed is currently in the middle of his X World Tour, but with a 12-day hiatus before he plays Croke Park on July 24th and 25th, and a few more weeks break after that, we're sure the singer will be spending some time relaxing in Dublin. And what better tour guide than Louise herself?

The singer has made no secret of his love of Ireland, even saying before that he'd love to settle down here one day."All my family is moving back to Ireland now. I would love to live here," he told Ryan Tubridy on The Late Late Show back in October. "I don’t necessarily live anywhere at the moment… Later down the line when I actually have time to stay somewhere though – I’d love to live here," he added.

As for Louise, she has reportedly already discussed her new romance with people close to her. "Friends and family now know so it is out there. Louise really cares about him and it's going very well," the insider said.

Ed split up with his girlfriend of one year, Athina Andrelos, back in February, just days before beginning his current tour. Since then the Thinking Out Loud singer has been keen to find love again, with his pals apparently keeping an eye out for someone they deem suitable.

"His friends want to set him up with a new girl and have their eye on a few people they've mentioned to him but he's very picky for obvious reasons," a source told The Mirror back in May.

So could Louise be The One? We certainly hope so, if it means we'll be seeing more of Ed 'round these parts…