Ashley Cole – the former husband of Cheryl Fernandez-Versini – has become a father for the first time. The 35-year-old and his partner Sharon Canu welcomed a baby boy together on Sunday, and besotted Ashley has already shared the first photo of his newborn.Father and son can be seen lying on their fronts, Ashley's arm protectively placed around his child. The pair are both wearing matching football shirts – Ashley's reads 'King', while his son's reads 'Prince'.According to reports, Ashley flew from LA - where he plays for LA Galaxy – to Rome to be present at the birth of his baby.
Ashley Cole and his girlfriend Sharon Canu have welcomed a baby boy
The sports star was said to be "over the moon" in the build-up to the big day, and especially delighted that his firstborn is a boy.
Italian model Sharon was first linked to Ashley in June last year. She is said to be a very "sweet" and down-to-earth girl who comes from a good Italian family.
The footballer was famously married to Cheryl
Ashley's ex Cheryl, meanwhile, is said to have been told the news, but not directly from her ex-husband. The former golden couple tied the knot in a lavish ceremony in July 2006 – but split less than four years later amid reports he was unfaithful.Cheryl's love life is back in the spotlight at the moment, following the news that she is now dating One Direction's Liam Payne.The hot new couple are said to have been secretly dating since December, following the end of her 18-month marriage to Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini."Cheryl and Liam are in a relationship," a source told the Sun. "It was unexpected but they've both made each other incredibly happy. They've always got on well and share many of the same interests, but there was never anything romantic between them in the past. "Their relationship developed very quickly in December after The X Factor final where One Direction gave their final performance before starting their hiatus. Liam is madly in love. This is the real deal."