Super Falcons defender Ashleigh Plumptre has revealed that she initially turned down the idea of joining Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad, admitting that her first reaction to the offer was a firm “no” before later giving it a second thought.
The 27-year-old, who played a key role in Nigeria’s run at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), made history last year when she became the first player to move directly from the English Women’s Super League (WSL) to the Saudi Women’s Premier League (SWPL).
After her contract with Leicester City expired, Plumptre received multiple offers from clubs in the United Kingdom, United States, and Europe, but eventually chose to sign for Al-Ittihad — a decision that surprised many football followers.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Sport, the Nigerian international explained that she was initially unsure about the Saudi move until she spoke with the club’s management team.
“I spoke to some teams in the UK, US, and Europe, then Dad said there was a team in Saudi Arabia interested in me,” she said. “I was shocked. My initial reaction was ‘no’, but I wanted to give them a chance.”
Plumptre disclosed that the club’s project and the sense of purpose it offered eventually won her over, rather than the financial terms.
“I had an hour-long call with the coach and two people in management,” she recalled. “We barely even spoke about football it was more about ourselves and what we were passionate about. After that conversation, I told Dad, ‘I have a really good feeling about this’.”
The Super Falcons defender explained that she trusted her instincts before making the decision to move to Saudi Arabia.
“I’m someone who goes off feeling and intuition,” she said. “But I wanted to visit and see it for myself. I spent two days there and really liked it. When I left, I thought, ‘this is where I want to be’.”
Born in Leicester, Plumptre began her football journey at Asfordby Amateurs, before featuring for Birmingham City, Derby County, and the University of Southern California (USC) Trojans in the United States. She also had stints at Notts County, LA Galaxy OC, and Leicester City, where she spent three successful years before moving to the Middle East.
The former England youth international, who later switched allegiance to Nigeria, has since become one of the key figures in the Super Falcons’ defensive setup.
