Nigerian defender Ashleigh Plumptre has officially signed with Saudi Women’s Premier League side Al-Ittihad following the expiration of her contract with Leicester City. The 25-year-old center-back, who boasts 15 caps for Nigeria, previously represented England at the youth level before switching her allegiance and making her debut for Nigeria in 2022.
Expressing her gratitude and excitement, Plumptre shared the news on the messaging platform X (formerly known as Twitter), saying, “Grateful to have signed for Al-Ittihad. Excited to start this journey alongside some incredible human beings. My journey of stepping into more of myself continues… It’s more than football.”
The Saudi Women’s Premier League is gearing up for its second season, featuring eight teams competing for the coveted title. Notably, Saudi men’s Pro League teams have made significant investments to attract top talent from European clubs, including renowned players like Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Karim Benzema.
However, the involvement of Saudi Arabia in sports has faced criticism, with some accusing the nation of engaging in “sportwashing” to deflect attention from concerns related to its human rights record and gender equality issues. While Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has introduced reforms that grant women greater control over their lives in recent years, the kingdom still grapples with a predominantly male-dominated power structure.
