Former England footballer Steph Houghton says she is expecting her first child with her husband, Stephen Darby. Houghton, who is 38, shares the news in an Instagram post, according to multiple reports. Darby was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2018, and the announcement follows earlier public hopes from the couple that they could become parents despite his illness. Several outlets describe Houghton as a former England Lioness and a former Manchester City player, and frame the announcement as a personal update delivered through social media. The reports do not cite additional medical details or timelines beyond the pregnancy itself. Overall, all accounts agree that Houghton and Darby are expecting their first child, and that Darby’s motor neurone disease diagnosis in 2018 is the relevant background to the couple’s earlier discussions about starting a family.