A Chinese buyer has acquired the renowned eight-bedroom St John’s Wood mansion, which Rihanna once called home in London, for £27.5 million.

The double-fronted white stucco villa served as the residence of the Barbadian musical icon during her residency in London from 2018 to 2020, a period of two and a half years.

During her “London years” (when she was dated Saudi billionaire Hassan Jameel) and from the residence where she infamously posted an Instagram photo featuring an orange Sainsbury’s “Bag for Life” in the backdrop, the 35-year-old pop star paid £18,000 per week in rent for the residence.

The St. John’s Wood Park residence measuring 6,332 square feet had been for sale since 2021, when it was listed for £32 million. A 21-foot terrace provides an expansive 126-foot-long by 130-foot-wide rear garden view from the residence.

Enlаrgement approval has been obtained to construct a 16,000-square-foot dwelling that will feature a health retreat featuring a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, and beauty treatment rooms.

Co-founding director of agents at Aston Chase, Mark Pollack, stated, “This sale exemplifies the surge in demand for suρer-prime London homes among Chinese buyers,” which was conducted in conjunction with Savills.

“Numerous affluent Chinese and Hong Kong residents are prioritizing a ‘Plan B’ if the Chinese government is forced to restrict movement due to the inability to travel during the pаndemic.”

Local construction magnate William Holme Twentyman constructed the residence for De Beers diamond magnate Daniel Francis in 1844. The architectural design credit goes to John Shaw Junior.

Stephen Lindsay, director of the North London and St John’s Wood Office at Savills, remarked, “This is an exceptionally rare residence, the sole surviving original villa designed by Royal architect John Shaw on St John’s Wood Park in the twenty-first century.

“The substantial price achieved firmly underlines the value and quality of this unique trophy home and the enduring appeal of St John’s Wood with buyers from both the UK and from around the world.”