Footballer Theo Walcott And Wife Melanie Slade Have First Child

Footballer Theo Walcott And Wife Melanie Slade Have First Child
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Doug Peters/Doug Peters

Arsenal striker Theo Walcott has announced he is a dad for the first time after his wife Melanie Slade gave birth to a baby boy.

The 25-year-old footballer announced on Facebook that Mel had given birth to baby Finley on Thursday.

He wrote: "So over the moon to announce the birth of our baby boy Finley born this morning. It's amazing to be mummy & daddy! Love him so much x"

Fans replied with best wishes.

One wrote: "Congratulations Theo! Hope he grows up to be as good as his dad. Hope also the recovery is going well!"

Another added: "Congratulations hope he's good footballer like is dad."

The England star married Mel, his childhood sweetheart, in June last year at Castello di Vincigliata, near Florence in Italy.

The couple got engaged on New Year's Eve 2012 at their Hertfordshire home and finally tied the knot after nine years of dating.

After finding out she was pregnant, Mel told Hello! magazine: "That moment when I saw Theo waiting for me at the altar was so overwhelming.

"Your emotions are all over the place – you're so excited and euphoric because you're marrying this person who you love so much, but there are some nerves there too because it's such a big step."

Theo is currently recovering after a cruciate ligament operation on his knee after he suffered the injury in January.

He has said his son was his inspiration to make a quick recovery.

He added: "In the space of a year, I have had three very big things happen - marriage, baby on the way and a major injury.

"The baby is the one thing that keeps me going. It's a great experience. It will be amazing for me, my family and Mel and her family. In some way it's a silver lining I suppose. Maybe it was destined to happen."