(Cover) - EN Showbiz - David Beckham has joked he needs a "shotgun" now he has a daughter.

The soccer star and his fashion designer wife Victoria Beckham welcomed Harper Seven into the world on July 10. She joins the couple's three sons Brooklyn, 12, Romeo, eight, and six-year-old Cruz, with the pair delighted to have added a girl to their brood.

David is known for being a doting father. He has tattoos of his kids' names and also has them etched on his soccer boots, and has laughed he'll be even more protective now he has a daughter.

"All I need now is a shotgun," he laughed.

The family moved to America in 2007 when David signed to Los Angeles Galaxy. It was one of the biggest deals in soccer history, with David's contract worth a reported $5.5 million a year.

With the sportsman now 36, speculation has been rife about how long he will continue playing for. His current contract with the club ends in November, and there have been rumours the couple may consider moving back to their native UK.

David is keen to keep going, but knows he won't be able to play the game forever.

"I'm just going to have to see how my body feels at the end of this year. I had my injury last year [a torn achilles tendon] and I'm getting a bit older now. It does take longer to get over games these days," he told British newspaper The Guardian.

"One, maybe two more years. I'm still enjoying getting up in the morning to go training and, until that changes, I don't see any reason to stop just yet. OK, I still have to play at a certain level, but I think I do that." (C) Cover Media