American football player Michael Sam has confirmed that he and boyfriend Vito Cammisano are engaged.

Friends of the couple appeared to let the news slip earlier this month by sending congratulatory messages on Instagram.

Sam, who became the first openly gay player to be drafted into the NFL last year, met his other half when both were students at the University of Missouri. He confirmed the engagement by posting a photo on social media of himself proposing to Cammisano during their recent trip.

Alongside the image, the sportsman, who is currently a free agent, wrote: "@vitcamm thank you for making my 25th birthday a very special one."