Why I moved to Saudi Arabia – Ashleigh Plumptre explains her decision

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Super Falcons defender Ashleigh Plumptre says her move to Saudi Arabia came after initially rejecting an approach from Al-Ittihad.

The 27-year-old, who switched allegiance from England to Nigeria, joined the Saudi Women’s Premier League club in 2023.

“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 Women’s Football Weekly.

“I was shocked. My initial reaction was ‘no’, but I wanted to give them a chance.”

Her father, Tim Plumptre, who acts as her agent, encouraged her to take the meeting.

“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’,” she said.

“We barely even spoke about football, but about ourselves and what we were passionate about. I visited for two days and really liked it, and when I left there I thought, ‘this is where I want to be’.”

The Saudi Women’s Premier League (SWPL) was launched in 2022 as a fully professional competition with 24 teams, divided into three divisions of eight. Each club can sign up to six foreign players.

Plumptre’s representatives declined to comment on her salary. However, according to the New York Times, overseas players in the SWPL earn between $60,000 and $120,000 (£44,000–£89,000) a year, tax-free.

The player insists her decision was based on the opportunity to grow the game.

“The project was the main draw, not money,” she said.

“I really care about helping these Saudi players develop and I don’t want things to happen too soon.”

Plumptre lives in a gated community in Jeddah, known locally as a compound, and says she feels safer there 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 had been to the supermarket and I had all these bags. 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.”

She added: “Naturally everyone is a bit fearful walking around at night, but I don’t have to check my shoulder all the time.”

Training and facilities

“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.”

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Unlike in the WSL, training takes place in the evenings when temperatures are cooler,  something Plumptre says she prefers.

League growth and challenges

The SWPL has attracted several international players, including Nigeria’s Francisca Ordega and six-time African Women’s Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala, who joined Al-Hilal this year.

“One of my club and international team-mates, Francisca Ordega, said in Saudi we must do more,” Plumptre said.

“The pace is not as fast, so you must think in different ways and push yourselves beyond boundaries that you didn’t before.”

But low attendances remain an issue.

“We don’t have many fans,” she admitted.

“There aren’t many initiatives yet to get children attending games with their families or giving out free tickets in schools. That’s been a huge part of how the WSL grew.”

Most SWPL clubs play in stadiums with capacities under 15,000, except Al-Ula.

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Matches are broadcast on the Saudi Sports Company network, Shahid streaming platform, and on DAZN in Europe.