Super Falcons defender, Ashleigh Plumptre, has explained why she joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad, saying her decision was based on instinct and not about money.
The 27-year-old, who previously played for Leicester City, said she was surprised when her father and agent, Tim Plumptre, told her that a Saudi club was interested in signing her.
“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 first reaction was ‘no,’ but I wanted to give them a chance.”
She said a one-hour video call with the Al-Ittihad coach and two management officials changed her mind completely.
“We barely even spoke about football,” she said. “We talked more about ourselves and what we’re passionate about. I make decisions based on feeling and intuition.”
Plumptre said she later visited Saudi Arabia for two days to see things for herself and immediately felt comfortable there.
“I had a really good feeling about this. When I left, I thought — this is where I want to be,” she said.
The Saudi Women’s Premier League (SWPL), which started in 2022, is now attracting top players from around the world, following the example of the men’s Saudi Pro League, home to stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Karim Benzema.
Although Plumptre’s representatives did not reveal her salary, reports suggest that foreign players in the SWPL earn between $60,000 and $120,000 a year, tax-free — higher than the average £47,000 salary in England’s Women’s Super League.
Despite this, Plumptre insists her choice was not about money.
“It wasn’t about money. It just felt right for me,” she said.
