Who is Gareth Bale’s wife? All about Emma Rhys-Jones

Emma Rhys-Jones, the wife of Welsh football icon Gareth Bale, is back in headlines as her husband is reportedly set to return to football in a new role. On June 16, 2025, news broke that Bale might lead a takeover bid at Plymouth Argyle, a club with no personal ties to the star but one now drawing interest from a US investment group.

Emma has been with Gareth for more than 20 years, supporting him through every chapter—from his early days in Cardiff to his historic Champions League wins with Real Madrid.

Who Is Emma Rhys-Jones?

Emma grew up in Llanishen, just a few miles from where Bale lived in north Cardiff. The couple met while attending Whitchurch High School in the early 2000s.

Before her life changed alongside Gareth’s football career, Emma worked as a hairdresser in Cardiff. Despite Gareth’s global fame, Emma has always kept a low profile and is not active on social media.

In July 2016, Bale proposed, announcing it during his birthday weekend: “She said yes!! This is a birthday weekend I won’t forget for a long time…”

They finally tied the knot in 2019 in Mallorca, Spain, in a small, private wedding with just 60 guests. Phones were not allowed, and even Emma’s father was not invited due to family issues.

Gareth Bale’s Career and Family Life

Born on July 16, 1989, Gareth Bale started his football career at Southampton, before becoming a star at Tottenham Hotspur. He moved to Real Madrid in 2013 and became one of the club’s legends, winning the Champions League five times.

After a brief spell with LAFC in MLS, he retired in January 2023.

Since retirement, Gareth has kept a quieter life but returned recently for punditry duties. Now, he’s rumored to be the face of an American investment bid for Plymouth Argyle, despite having no past connection with the club.

Gareth and Emma’s Children

Emma and Gareth have four children:

• Alba Violet, born October 21, 2012

• Nava Valentina, born March 22, 2016

• Axel, born May 8, 2018

• Xander, born July 7, 2021

They often keep their children out of the spotlight, though they have been seen at some of Bale’s big football moments.