‘I deeply hurt people by moving to Saudi Arabia’: Ashleigh Plumptre Opens Up
When the offer came in from Saudi Arabia, Ashleigh Plumptre’s initial reaction was one of hesitation. In 2023, with her contract at Leicester City nearing its end, the defender sought a new, inspiring project where she would feel valued both as a person and a footballer.
After careful consideration and a visit to the Middle East, the Nigeria international made the bold decision to become the first player to transition from the Women’s Super League (WSL) to the Saudi Women’s Premier League (SWPL).
Two years later, having signed a contract extension with Jeddah-based Al-Ittihad, Plumptre aims to challenge Western perceptions of Saudi Arabia and shed light on the experiences of female athletes in the country.
However, she acknowledges the pain caused to some LGBT fans within the women’s football community and recognizes that Saudi women’s football still has a long road ahead, both on and off the field.
Ashleigh Plumptre’s Saudi Arabia Transfer: A Deep Dive
From WSL to SWPL: A Career-Defining Choice
At 27, Plumptre is not only a talented footballer but also a thoughtful and articulate young woman. Throughout her career, she has made unconventional choices, most notably switching her international allegiance from England, where she was born and represented at the youth level, to Nigeria, her paternal grandfather’s nation.
Therefore, when her father, Tim, who also acts as her agent, informed her of Al-Ittihad’s interest, she decided to explore the opportunity despite initial reservations.
“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,” she told BBC Sport.
“I was shocked. My initial reaction was ‘no’, but I wanted to give them a chance.”
Plumptre was among the first international stars to join the SWPL, which was established in 2022 as a fully professional league.
The league pyramid consists of 24 teams divided into three leagues of eight, with clubs allowed to sign up to six foreign players.
The men’s competition, the Saudi Pro League, has gained notoriety for attracting major global stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Karim Benzema with lucrative contracts.
While Plumptre’s representatives declined to comment on her salary and contract at Al-Ittihad, the player emphasized that the project itself was the primary motivation, rather than financial gain.
According to the New York Times in 2023, the league is funded by the state’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and offers higher prize money than the WSL, with overseas players’ salaries ranging from $60,000-$120,000 (£44,000-£89,000) per year tax-free. A 2022 BBC survey found that the average WSL salary was £47,000, although top players can earn significantly more.
“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’,” said Plumptre.
“We barely even spoke about football, but about ourselves and what we were passionate about.
“I’m someone who goes off feeling and intuition. But 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’.”
Addressing the Controversy: LGBT Community Concerns
Plumptre’s move sparked controversy due to several factors. Not only was she an international player in her prime joining a league largely unknown to European audiences, but it also caused distress among some members of the LGBT community, who have traditionally found women’s football to be more inclusive than the male equivalent.
Same-sex relations are illegal in Saudi Arabia.
The nation’s involvement in women’s football remains a contentious issue. Last year, over 100 professional female footballers signed a letter urging FIFA to terminate its sponsorship agreement with Saudi Arabian oil company Aramco, accusing the national authorities of “brutal human rights violations.”
Plumptre mentioned that she and her teammates at Leicester had close relationships with the club’s LGBT supporters’ group and that she received negative feedback following her decision to join Al-Ittihad. When asked about this reaction, it is evident that she is still affected by it.
“Especially when I moved out here, the reaction was not good at all,” she said. “That was difficult.
“When I made this move there were people around Leicester – I remember some comments I received – 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. I don’t really know what to say.
“It does not mean I condone certain things, even if the move means I am associated with certain things.”
Life in Saudi Arabia: A “Peace Bubble”?
Experiencing Jeddah: Safety and Security
Similar to many expats in Saudi Arabia, Plumptre resides in a gated community known as a compound.
These residential compounds offer a lifestyle comparable to Western suburban areas, featuring gyms, pools, restaurants, and other amenities in a self-contained environment. Some even have unofficial bars that serve alcohol, which is prohibited in Saudi Arabia.
Plumptre asserts that she feels happier and safer as a woman living in Jeddah than she did in the UK.
“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.
“I’ll give an example. I had been to the supermarket and I had all these bags. I live in a compound. I had to take all these bags into the elevator, so 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.
“Naturally, everyone is a bit fearful walking around at night, but I don’t have to check my shoulder all the time. I know this is just the perspective of myself, not of everybody who lives here, but with the safety I feel I can’t agree with some of the views the Western world have of this place.”
As Plumptre acknowledges, this is only one perspective on life for a woman in Saudi Arabia.
Some of the most glaringly unequal practices in the country are no longer in place. Women have been allowed to drive since 2018. A year later, those over 21 could apply for a passport.
However, the concept of guardianship, or ‘wilaya,’ is central to Saudi culture. Traditionally, every woman has a ‘wali,’ a male guardian who makes decisions on her behalf.
While there has been some reform – women over 21 no longer need approval to access healthcare or education – reports from organizations such as Amnesty International indicate that this is not always practically implemented and that women are still heavily restricted in what they can do, wear, and say.
When asked about her personal experience since moving to Saudi Arabia, Plumptre said: “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.
“Every woman can say there is a level of fear within them if they were to be out walking at night whether in the Saudi or in the UK, but there are levels of fear, and there are lower levels in Saudi based on the way men behave.”
The Future of Women’s Football in Saudi Arabia
Challenges and Opportunities in the SWPL
While the SWPL may not boast the same level of star power as the men’s Pro League, it features several prominent names alongside Plumptre.
Two-time Women’s Champions League winner Asisat Oshoala joined Al-Hilal this year, while France internationals Kheira Hamraoui and Amel Majri also play in the SWPL.
These players receive VIP treatment, including flights to games to avoid long travel times across the vast country.
However, the SWPL faces several significant challenges. One is the skill gap between the international players and their homegrown counterparts. Another is the low attendance at many of the games.
Plumptre acknowledges that there is much work to be done.
“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 teammates, 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. There is more responsibility on you.”
Plumptre reports that facilities are generally good for players. Al-Ittihad is not just a football club but also has teams in swimming, volleyball, and basketball, and Plumptre says they have adapted to the arrival of women’s football since 2023, although the most advanced facilities are reserved for the men.
Unlike in the WSL, the squad trains in the evening when temperatures are cooler – a schedule Plumptre prefers as it reminds her of training after school while at Leicester academy, and it also leaves her days free.
“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. When I got here the field was not great at all, so we pushed on that and people listened.”
Boosting Fan Engagement: A Key Priority
The biggest challenge is attracting fans to the games. With the exception of Al-Ula, every SWPL team plays in a stadium with a capacity of fewer than 15,000, and crowds are often sparse.
“We don’t have many fans,” Plumptre admits.
She attributes this to a lack of community initiatives in Saudi Arabia to encourage children to attend games with their families and distribute free tickets in schools. These initiatives have played a crucial role in the WSL’s success in increasing attendance and building fan bases among children and families, and Plumptre says Saudi clubs are working to implement similar strategies.
Matches are available to watch on TV in the Middle East on the Saudi Sports Company network and the Shahid streaming platform. DAZN, which is backed by Saudi Arabia, holds the broadcast rights in Europe.
Women’s World Cup: A Distant Goal?
In terms of Saudi Arabian women’s football on a global scale, there is considerable work to be done. The country’s hosting of the men’s World Cup in 2034 and Aramco’s partnership with FIFA have fueled speculation about a potential bid for the Women’s World Cup in the near future.
However, Plumptre believes that the aims need to be more realistic.
“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.”
Listen to Ben Haines, Ellen White and Jen Beattie on the Women’s Football Weekly podcast every Tuesday on BBC Sounds. Also find interviews and extra content from the Women’s Super League and beyond on the Women’s Football Weekly feed
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