Cynthia Ezegwu
Super Falcons defender Ashleigh Plumptre has revealed that her decision to join Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad was driven by instinct and a sense of purpose rather than financial incentives.
The 27-year-old, who previously played for Leicester City in England, said she initially had reservations about the move until she spoke with the club’s management and visited Saudi Arabia herself.
Speaking to BBC Sport on Tuesday, 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.”
She explained that after a long discussion with the Al-Ittihad coach and management staff, she felt a strong personal connection that convinced her to make the move.
“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.’ We barely even spoke about football but about ourselves and what we were passionate about,” Plumptre said.
“I’m someone who goes off feeling and intuition. I wanted to go out and visit – I wanted to see what it was really like. I visited for two days and really liked it, and when I left there I thought, ‘this is where I want to be,’” she added.
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The Saudi Women’s Premier League (SWPL), launched in 2022 as a fully professional competition, currently features 24 teams divided into three divisions of eight. Each club can sign up to six foreign players.
While the men’s Saudi Pro League is known for its high-profile and lucrative signings, Plumptre and her representatives declined to comment on her salary, insisting that her decision was based on the project and personal growth rather than financial gain.
Her move makes her one of the first international stars to join the SWPL as the country continues to invest heavily in expanding women’s football.