‘I was shocked,’ Ashleigh Plumptre opens up on Saudi move

Nigeria international defender, Ashleigh Plumptre, has shared her experience of life and football in Saudi Arabia, two years after making a move that initially took even her by surprise.

The Super Falcons star said her first reaction when she received an offer from Saudi side Al-Ittihad in 2023 was to reject it.

At the time, her contract with Leicester City was ending, and she was looking for a fresh challenge that aligned with her personal and professional values.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Ashleigh Plumptre said, “I spoke to some teams in the UK, US and Europe, then Dad said there was a team in Saudi Arabia who are interested in you.

“I was shocked. My initial reaction was ‘no’, but I wanted to give them a chance.”

After discussions and a visit to Jeddah, Plumptre decided to accept the offer, becoming the first player to move from the Women’s Super League (WSL) to the Saudi Women’s Premier League (SWPL). She has since extended her contract and continues to play a central role at Al-Ittihad.

She explained that her decision was based more on the opportunity to be part of a new project than financial motivation.

“I had an hour-long call with the coach and two people in the management staff, and I said to Dad, ‘I have a really good feeling about this’,” she said. “We barely even spoke about football, but about ourselves and what we were passionate about.”

Her move drew criticism from sections of women’s football, especially among LGBT supporters who expressed disappointment given Saudi Arabia’s strict laws. Plumptre admitted that the backlash affected her but maintained that her choice was made in good faith and not to promote any ideology.

“Especially when I moved out here, the reaction was not good at all,” she said. “When I made this move there were people around Leicester… it was like I was not the person they thought I was. I had deeply hurt them because they feel like I am representing something which makes them not feel valued, and I understand that. It does not mean I condone certain things, even if the move means I am associated with certain things.”

The 27-year-old said life in Jeddah has been peaceful, noting that she feels safer and more relaxed there than she did in the United Kingdom.

“I know international players, members of my family and friends who have come out here who genuinely feel safer here and calmer than in the UK,” she said. “A friend of mine who was out here, we described it as being like a peace bubble.”

She recalled an incident that reflected her sense of security: “I had been to the supermarket and had all these bags. I left my car out with the door open, engine on and keys in the car so I could take up my shopping. In the UK I would never leave my car out with the keys in. Here I have no problem.”

Plumptre also acknowledged that Saudi Arabia still has cultural and social restrictions, especially concerning women, but insisted her personal experience has been positive.

“I don’t feel threatened at all here. Men are encouraged to treat women a certain way, and there are consequences if they do not,” she said. “Every woman can say there is a level of fear within them if they were to be out walking at night… but there are lower levels in Saudi Arabia based on the way men behave.”

On the football side, Plumptre said the Saudi Women’s Premier League is developing but still has a long way to go in terms of competition and fan engagement. She noted that while facilities are improving, attendance at matches remains low.

“It’s not something I will ever hide away from – the standard is not what I’m used to in the WSL or at international level, and I worried how that would impact myself and my development,” she said.

“One of my club and international team-mates, Francisca Ordega, said in Saudi we must do more. The pace is not as fast, so you must think in different ways, and push yourselves beyond boundaries that you didn’t before.”

She also spoke about the working conditions at Al-Ittihad. “When I first came here, we were using the same gym the volleyball and basketball teams use,” she said. “Now we are in the old men’s gym. The men’s team have a new facility. We have a medical clinic, access to ice baths, our own locker room. We train on the main field, separate to the men.”

Plumptre acknowledged that fan culture is still growing. “We don’t have many fans,” she said. “I think it’s because there haven’t been enough community initiatives in Saudi Arabia to get children attending games with their families and giving out free tickets in schools.”

Looking ahead, Plumptre said Saudi Arabia’s women’s football should focus on gradual development rather than rushing to host global tournaments.

“In the near future I would say ‘no’ [to Saudi hosting a Women’s World Cup], because everything takes time,” she said. “I really care about helping these Saudi players develop and I don’t want things to happen too soon. I believe in the process, taking measurable and decisive steps – make it long-lasting.”

“It is not about trying to rush something. If you put the Saudi team on a stage they are not ready for, it is unfair for them and women’s football.”

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