Ashley Cole Now: Children, Relationships, Net Worth and Cheryl

Few footballers have had their personal lives scrutinised as intensely as Ashley Cole. His career took him from Arsenal’s academy to the top of European football, while his marriage to Cheryl Tweedy turned him into tabloid gold. This profile separates the confirmed biography from the noise, answering the questions fans still ask about his children, his current relationship and his wealth.

Born: 20 December 1980, London ·
Position: Left-back ·
England caps: 107 ·
Marriage to Cheryl: 2006–2010 ·
Senior clubs: Arsenal, Chelsea, Roma, LA Galaxy, Derby County

Six key biographical facts give the outline of Cole’s career and family milestones. The table below condenses the verified data.

Does Ashley Cole have any children?

Confirmed fatherhood facts

• Ashley Cole is a father, but his children are not from his marriage to Cheryl Tweedy. According to records, he has a son and a daughter with Italian model Sharon Canu (Wikipedia).
• Media reports name the son Jaxon and the daughter Grace (Mirror).

Cheryl and Ashley’s marriage had no children

• The couple did not have any children together before their divorce in 2010 (The Sun).

The implication: any narrative linking Ashley Cole to fatherhood via his marriage to Cheryl is incorrect. His children belong to a later, private relationship.

Is Ashley Cole in a relationship?

Ashley Cole and Sharon Canu

• Cole has been in a long-term relationship with Sharon Canu since around 2014, according to reports (Closer).
• An engagement was reported in 2021, and a wedding is said to have taken place in July 2023 (Wikipedia).

From 2010 divorce to current status

• After his divorce from Cheryl in 2010, Cole’s private life stayed largely out of the public eye (Mirror).
• No official statement from Cole confirms the exact details of his relationship, but consistent reporting places Canu as his partner.

The pattern: Cole built a new family out of the tabloid glare. His current relationship is documented by media but not formally addressed by him.

How rich is Ashley Cole?

Reported net-worth figures

• No official net-worth figure exists. Estimates vary: one source puts it at about $45 million as of 2026 (iFANN), while another estimated £43.1 million ($60 million) in 2021 (Tuko).

Premier League contract earnings

• Cole’s biggest contracts came after his controversial move from Arsenal to Chelsea in 2006, a transfer that drew criticism but secured his financial future (Wikipedia).

Post-playing income

• Since retiring in 2019, Cole has worked as a coach for England’s Under-21s and appears as a pundit on shows such as Stick to Football and Sky Sports (Sky Sports).

The catch: without a verified public figure, all net-worth claims are speculative. What’s clear is that two decades at the elite level generated substantial earnings.

Why did Cheryl Cole leave Ashley Cole?

2010 public split statements

• Cheryl filed for divorce in May 2010, citing “unreasonable behaviour”; it was finalised in September 2010 (The Sun).

Do Ashley and Cheryl still speak?

• There is no public evidence of regular contact. Neither party has commented on their current dynamic (Closer).

What was reported vs confirmed

• Infidelity allegations were widely reported by tabloids but never publicly confirmed by both Cole and Cheryl (Mirror).

The trade-off: the divorce is a matter of public record, but the reasons behind it remain partly in the realm of rumour. Only the legal timeline is certain.

Does Cheryl Cole have a partner now?

Cheryl’s privacy

• Cheryl has not publicly confirmed a current partner since her split from Liam Payne in 2018 (Wikipedia).

Health records and past reports

• In 2010, Cheryl was reported to have contracted malaria, but her current health status is private (Closer).

Simon Cowell fall-out

• A reported rift with Simon Cowell has never been officially detailed by either party (Mirror).

The pattern: Cheryl guards her private life closely. What the public knows comes from brief media reports, not personal statements.

Why did Liam Payne leave Cheryl Cole?

Liam Payne and Cheryl’s split

• Liam Payne and Cheryl announced their separation in 2018. They have a son together (Wikipedia).

Who inherited Liam Payne’s fortune?

• Liam Payne died in November 2024. His estate has not been publicly detailed in probate records, so inheritance remains unknown (BBC News).

Circumstances of Liam Payne’s death

• No public source confirms what Payne experienced in his final moments. Investigations are ongoing, and reports remain preliminary (BBC News).

The implication: many questions about Liam Payne’s estate and the specific causes of his death are still unanswered. Fans and media await official records.

Timeline signal

• 1980: Born in London, England (Wikipedia)
• 2003–2004: Part of Arsenal’s unbeaten Premier League season (Wikipedia)
• 2006: Moved from Arsenal to Chelsea and married Cheryl Tweedy (The Sun)
• 2010: Divorce from Cheryl finalized (The Sun)
• 2012: Won UEFA Champions League with Chelsea (Wikipedia)
• 2014: Left Chelsea for Roma (Wikipedia)
• 2016: Signed for LA Galaxy (Wikipedia)
• 2019: Retired from professional football after a short spell with Derby County (Wikipedia)
• 2021: Joined England Under-21 coaching staff (Sky Sports)
• 2023–2024: Helped England Under-21s win European titles (OneFootball)
• 2025: Reported step away from England Under-21 coaching role (OneFootball)

The pattern: Cole’s timeline shows a steady climb through elite football, a chaotic personal period around 2006–2010, and a quieter post-career in coaching and media.

What’s confirmed, what’s unclear

Cole’s post-playing career includes candid media appearances where he addresses both football and his personal journey.

“It’s not been an easy decision, but I’ve loved every minute of working with the young players. The future is bright for English football.” — Ashley Cole on stepping back from England U21 role (via OneFootball)

Stick to Football host Rio Ferdinand has noted Cole’s willingness to discuss his career openly on the show, providing insight into the former left-back’s current media profile.

For fans piecing together Ashley Cole’s life after football, the lesson is clear: the on-pitch achievements are well documented, but the private chapters remain largely off the record. Rely on official records for career facts, and treat tabloid stories about his relationships and wealth as estimates — not gospel.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• Jamie Redknapp: Career, Marriages, and Life After Football
• Phil Neville: Career, Family, Children and Net Worth