Last Updated on September 23, 2026 by Miguel Manjate
Ashley Westwood is an English professional footballer and captain of Charlotte FC in Major League Soccer. Born Ashley Roy Westwood on April 1, 1990, in Nantwich, England, he developed through Crewe Alexandra before spending a decade in the Premier League with Aston Villa and Burnley. Westwood moved to the United States in January 2023 and has since established himself as one of Charlotte FC’s most experienced leaders.
Away from football, Westwood is strongly family-oriented. He is married to his longtime partner, Rebecca “Becca” Westwood, and the couple have two children, Frankie and Elsie. His move to Charlotte was made with his wife and children in mind, and Westwood has repeatedly said that their happiness in North Carolina has been one of the most important aspects of his American experience. Less information is publicly available about his parents, although an earlier firsthand account identified his father as Kevin, while Westwood has also publicly mentioned having a younger sister.
Who Is Ashley Westwood’s Wife?
Ashley Westwood’s wife is Rebecca Westwood, commonly known as Becca. She has been alongside the midfielder for much of his professional career, from his early years in England through his Premier League spells and eventually his move to Major League Soccer.
A 2024 profile from The Player Care Group described Rebecca as Ashley’s wife and said the couple had been together for approximately 14 years at that point. That means their relationship dates back to around the beginning of Westwood’s senior career with Crewe Alexandra.
Rebecca experienced Ashley’s rise from the lower divisions of English football to the Premier League. She was with him as he moved from Crewe Alexandra to Aston Villa in 2012, later followed him through his years with Burnley and eventually agreed to move their family across the Atlantic.
Rebecca “Becca” Westwood and the Move to Charlotte
The decision to leave England was a major change for the Westwood family. Becca had previously spent virtually her entire life close to her hometown in England, even while Ashley represented clubs such as Aston Villa and Burnley.
According to Charlotte reporting, Ashley approached her over dinner and asked whether she would consider moving to the United States. Becca agreed almost immediately, although she later acknowledged that relocating overseas gave her a new appreciation for the challenges faced by footballers’ partners who leave their own countries.
After settling in Charlotte, Becca became involved with the community of wives and partners associated with Charlotte FC. The group has helped new families adjust to life in North Carolina, while also participating in charitable and social activities.
Becca has described those relationships as particularly valuable for practical everyday matters, including finding places for children to play, choosing shops and adapting to a new community.
Ashley Westwood’s Children
Ashley and Rebecca Westwood have two children: a son named Frankie and a daughter named Elsie. Both children relocated from England to Charlotte with their parents and have become involved in soccer themselves.
In September 2024, Charlotte reporting identified Frankie as 12 years old and Elsie as nine. The family subsequently became increasingly settled in the city, with both children attending local schools and participating in youth sports.
Frankie Westwood
Frankie Westwood is Ashley and Becca’s eldest child and only son. Reporting from Charlotte identified him as 11 in 2023 and 12 in 2024.
Like his father, Frankie has developed an interest in soccer. Rebecca has been described as a full-time “football mum” to Frankie and Elsie, with both children playing club soccer in the United States.
Ashley has spoken enthusiastically about being able to spend weekends watching his son play. One of the reasons he appreciates American family culture is the emphasis placed on parents attending their children’s activities.
During the family’s first period in Charlotte, Westwood also took Frankie to parks and introduced him to other American sports. In one story, father and son bought a baseball bat after seeing children playing baseball at Freedom Park and decided to try the sport themselves.
Frankie has also been seen around Charlotte FC players. During the 2023 season, reporting noted that he particularly admired then-Charlotte forward Enzo Copetti.
Elsie Westwood
Elsie Westwood is Ashley and Becca’s daughter. In 2020, while Ashley was still playing for Burnley, she was publicly identified as five years old, and by September 2024 Charlotte reporting listed her as nine.
Elsie has also become involved in soccer. The Player Care Group described both Westwood children as club soccer players, demonstrating that football has become a shared family interest rather than simply Ashley’s profession.
During the family’s early period in Charlotte, Westwood spoke about collecting his children from school and taking Elsie to gymnastics as well as attending Frankie’s soccer activities.
The children’s adjustment to the United States appears to have been a major reason the family decided to establish longer-term roots in Charlotte.
Ashley Westwood’s Family Life in Charlotte
When Westwood initially joined Charlotte FC in 2023, the family enrolled Frankie and Elsie in school and began exploring the city together. Westwood soon described Charlotte as a special place and said the move had provided both his career and his family with a fresh start.
In 2024, Ashley and Becca took another significant step by purchasing a home in Charlotte after initially renting. Their children also transitioned from the British International School to schools within the Charlotte-Mecklenburg system.
Westwood said the family’s happiness was an important part of his decision to extend his Charlotte FC contract. When the club announced a new deal through 2026, with an option for 2027, he specifically described life in Charlotte as an incredible experience for his family.
He has repeatedly said that he enjoys being able to watch his children play sports on weekends. Rather than spending all of his free time focused on his own football career, Westwood has embraced the role of a soccer dad.
How Ashley Westwood’s Family Helped Him Through His Serious Injury
Family became particularly important to Westwood following the serious ankle injury he suffered while playing for Burnley against West Ham United in April 2022.
The injury required surgery involving a metal plate and pins. Westwood later revealed that his recovery became extremely difficult mentally and that he briefly considered retiring from football.
His first thoughts after the injury were closely connected with his family. Westwood called Rebecca from the ambulance while she was away with their two children.
As rehabilitation became increasingly difficult, he began thinking seriously about whether continuing professional football was worth the physical and emotional strain. He later explained that part of him simply wanted to spend more time enjoying life with his wife and children.
The opportunity to join Charlotte FC eventually gave him a new challenge. Westwood has since said the move was not only good for his career but one of the best decisions the family had made together.
Who Are Ashley Westwood’s Parents?
Compared with the extensive information available about his wife and children, Ashley Westwood has shared considerably less publicly about his parents.
Mainstream club biographies from Charlotte FC, Burnley and Aston Villa do not provide the names of his mother and father. Consequently, information about his parents should be treated more cautiously than details about his own household.
Ashley Westwood’s Father
An earlier firsthand supporter account published during Westwood’s Aston Villa career identified his father as Kevin Westwood. The writer described meeting Kevin at Crewe Alexandra’s stadium and reported that he worked around the club’s grounds.
The account is notable because of Ashley’s own strong connection with Crewe. Westwood entered the club’s academy as a youngster before becoming a first-team player and eventually captain.
However, Kevin’s identity has not subsequently been documented extensively in official biographies or major interviews with Ashley. It is therefore more accurate to describe Kevin as the name reported for Westwood’s father rather than presenting extensive personal details that cannot be independently verified.
Ashley Westwood’s Mother
The name of Ashley Westwood’s mother has not been reliably established in the major football sources reviewed for this profile.
Westwood has generally kept his parents away from the public attention surrounding his football career. Interviews that discuss his family increasingly focus on Rebecca, Frankie and Elsie rather than on his childhood household.
For this reason, names attributed to his mother on unsourced biography websites or social-media pages should not be treated as confirmed.
Ashley Westwood’s Grandparents
Westwood has spoken more openly about his grandparents, particularly during an emotional period in 2021 when he lost two grandfathers.
His Grandfather Sid
One of Westwood’s grandfathers was named Sid. Westwood attended Sid’s funeral on January 21, 2021, only hours before playing for Burnley against Liverpool at Anfield.
Despite the emotional circumstances, he chose to play. Burnley famously won 1-0, ending Liverpool’s long unbeaten Premier League home run.
Westwood later explained that his grandfather had followed his entire career, from his development at Crewe Alexandra to reaching the Premier League with Aston Villa and continuing with Burnley.
His Grandfather Roy
Another grandfather was named Roy. Westwood also lost Roy in 2021 and was given time away from Burnley training to attend his funeral.
Roy had a particularly visible legacy within the family because Ashley’s full name is Ashley Roy Westwood. Westwood revealed that the name Roy was subsequently carried into the next generation through his son.
The loss of his grandparents led Westwood to speak publicly about how important family had become to him. He explained that difficult experiences had reinforced his belief that family should remain one of the central priorities in life.
Does Ashley Westwood Have Siblings?
Yes. Ashley Westwood has publicly been documented as having at least one younger sister.
A 2021 interview discussing family and dementia referred specifically to Westwood’s younger sister. However, her name was not published, and she has remained outside the public spotlight.
Ashley Westwood’s Younger Sister
Very little biographical information is publicly available about Westwood’s younger sister. Unlike Ashley, she has not developed a public career in professional sport.
The Burnley-era interview provides clear evidence that she exists but does not disclose details such as her age, career or education.
There is also insufficient reliable information to establish confidently whether Westwood has additional brothers or sisters. For that reason, his younger sister is the only sibling who can currently be documented from dependable football-related reporting.
Ashley Westwood’s Childhood in Nantwich
Westwood was born in Nantwich, Cheshire, and remained closely connected with the surrounding area during his early football development.
He joined Crewe Alexandra’s academy and later made his senior breakthrough with the club. Early in his career, he also spent time on loan at hometown club Nantwich Town.
Crewe became particularly important to the Westwood family. Ashley progressed from the academy into the first team, became captain and accumulated more than 100 league appearances before Aston Villa signed him in August 2012.
The move transformed his career. Instead of progressing gradually through the Football League, Westwood immediately became a Premier League midfielder and established himself in Aston Villa’s starting lineup.
From Crewe to the Premier League
After joining Aston Villa, Westwood spent approximately four and a half seasons with the Birmingham club. He became a regular Premier League midfielder and experienced major matches, relegation battles and an FA Cup final.
Burnley signed him in January 2017, returning him to the Premier League after Villa’s relegation. Westwood subsequently became one of Sean Dyche’s trusted midfielders.
His time at Burnley included qualification for European competition and individual recognition. During the 2018–19 season, both supporters and teammates voted him Burnley’s Player of the Year.
That successful period also provided stability for Rebecca and their growing family before the serious ankle injury of 2022 changed the direction of his career.
Ashley Westwood’s Move to Charlotte FC
Charlotte FC signed Westwood from Burnley in January 2023. At the time, he was still working his way back from the ankle injury that had nearly convinced him to retire.
The transfer offered something the Westwood family had discussed for years: the opportunity to experience life in another country. Westwood said he and Rebecca had previously considered the possibility of living abroad, including Spain, but having two school-age children made an English-speaking destination especially attractive.
The move quickly exceeded their expectations. Rebecca built friendships with other Charlotte FC families, Frankie and Elsie became involved in local soccer, and Ashley rediscovered his enthusiasm for playing.
Charlotte eventually made Westwood its captain, and his importance continued to grow. He signed an extension through 2026 with an option for 2027 and was selected for the 2026 MLS All-Star Game.
Why Family Is So Important to Ashley Westwood
Westwood’s comments throughout his career show that his priorities have increasingly shifted toward his family as he has grown older.
The deaths of his grandparents, his serious Burnley injury and the challenge of relocating overseas all reinforced that perspective. He has repeatedly described decisions not only in terms of what is best for his football career but also what works for Rebecca, Frankie and Elsie.
His life in Charlotte now reflects that balance. He remains captain of a professional MLS team while also spending weekends watching youth soccer, taking his children to activities and enjoying the different lifestyle available to the family in North Carolina.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ashley Westwood’s Family
Who is Ashley Westwood’s wife?
Ashley Westwood’s wife is Rebecca “Becca” Westwood. She has been with him since around the beginning of his professional career and relocated with him from England to Charlotte, North Carolina.
How long have Ashley and Rebecca Westwood been together?
A 2024 Player Care Group profile said Rebecca had been with Ashley for approximately 14 years, placing the beginning of their relationship around 2010.
How many children does Ashley Westwood have?
Ashley and Rebecca Westwood have two children, a son named Frankie and a daughter named Elsie.
Who is Ashley Westwood’s son?
Ashley Westwood’s son is Frankie Westwood. He plays youth soccer in Charlotte and has regularly accompanied his family to football-related events.
Who is Ashley Westwood’s daughter?
Ashley Westwood’s daughter is Elsie Westwood. Like her brother, she has participated in club soccer since the family’s move to the United States.
Who is Ashley Westwood’s father?
A firsthand supporter account from Westwood’s Aston Villa period identified his father as Kevin Westwood and reported that he worked around Crewe Alexandra’s ground. However, official player biographies provide little information about Westwood’s parents.
Who is Ashley Westwood’s mother?
Ashley Westwood’s mother has remained outside the public spotlight, and her name has not been reliably confirmed in the major club and media sources reviewed for this profile.
Does Ashley Westwood have siblings?
Yes. Reliable reporting from his Burnley career confirms that Westwood has at least one younger sister. Her name has not been widely published.
Who were Ashley Westwood’s grandfathers?
Westwood publicly discussed grandfathers named Sid and Roy after losing both of them in 2021. Roy’s name is also Ashley’s middle name and was subsequently passed down within the family.
Where does Ashley Westwood’s family live?
Ashley, Rebecca, Frankie and Elsie established their home in Charlotte, North Carolina, after Westwood joined Charlotte FC in 2023. The family later purchased a home in the Charlotte area.
What club does Ashley Westwood play for?
Ashley Westwood plays for and captains Charlotte FC in Major League Soccer. His current deal runs through the 2026 season with a club option for 2027.

Miguel Manjate is a football journalist and editor covering the Premier League, European competitions, and transfer news, with a strong focus on match analysis and data-driven reporting.
