Plumptre opens up on surprise move to Saudi club

Super Falcons defender, Ashleigh Plumptre, has opened up on her surprise switch to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad, revealing that her decision was driven purely by instinct, not money.

The 27-year-old, who previously starred for Leicester City, admitted she was caught off guard when her father and agent, Tim Plumptre, told her that a Saudi club wanted her signature.

“I spoke to some teams in the UK, US, and Europe, then Dad said there was a team in Saudi Arabia interested in you,” Plumptre told BBC Sport. “I was shocked. My initial reaction was ‘no,’ but I wanted to give them a chance.”

Plumptre said an hour-long conversation with the Al-Ittihad coach and two management officials completely changed her mind.

“We barely even spoke about football,” she said. “It was more about who we are and what we’re passionate about. I’m someone who goes off feeling and intuition.”

After visiting the club for two days, the Nigerian defender said she was convinced it was the right move.

“I had a really good feeling about this. When I left, I thought — this is where I want to be.”

The Saudi Women’s Premier League (SWPL), launched in 2022 as a fully professional competition, has continued to attract global talent, following the footsteps of the men’s Saudi Pro League, which boasts football icons like Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Karim Benzema.

While Plumptre’s representatives declined to comment on her salary, reports say overseas players in the SWPL earn between $60,000 and $120,000 per year, tax-free, a figure that already rivals or surpasses the average £47,000 salary in England’s Women’s Super League.

Still, Plumptre insists her heart led the way.

“It wasn’t about money. It was about the feeling that it was right for me,” she said.