Ashleigh Plumptre Reveals Father Pushed Her to Embrace Al‑Ittihad Move

A phone call with Al‑Ittihad’s manager and officials convinced Ashleigh Plumptre that Saudi Arabia was where she needed to be. She said the discussion wasn’t about football at first “most of the time we didn’t even speak about football.”

Plumptre, a defender for Nigeria’s national team, left Leicester City after her contract ended in July.  She admitted she had offers from both European and American clubs, but felt something special during that call. “I came off that call and I said to my dad, ‘Yeah, that’s where I need to be’.”

Making the move to Al‑Ittihad proved affirming. After arriving in Jeddah, she felt even more certain she made the right choice, not just for her career but for her growth as a person. With striker instincts she showed immediately she scored a hat‑trick on her debut against Eastern Flames, then delivered another three‑goal haul in a derby match with Al Ahli later in the season.

Plumptre says she values alignment with her surroundings shared values, ambitions, and people she can trust. “We didn’t even speak much about football … I’ve always been a fierce competitor but also seen how football is a vehicle for so much more.” Since joining, she has been vocal about helping develop women’s football in Saudi Arabia, mentoring teammates, and embracing her role beyond just what happens on the pitch.

Editorial

We often speak of career moves in football as strictly professional decisionscontracts, trophies, exposures. Yet Ashleigh Plumptre’s choice to join Al‑Ittihad challenges that narrow framing. We believe that her move speaks of purpose, of ambition beyond the obvious, and of courage.

Plumptre had her pick of established European or American outfits. Many would assume those paths were better for visibility, competition, and prestige. She could have fallen into that logic. Instead, she followed something deeper a sense of alignment. When she spoke over the phone with Al‑Ittihad’s management, “we didn’t even speak much about football,” she recalled. What mattered were values, relationships, a shared ambition. We admire that. Football needs more athletes who measure opportunity by character, not just statistics.

Her early performances hat‑tricks, leadership qualities, mentoring show that she isn’t merely making a statement she’s making impact. By refusing to conform to expectations, she propels women’s football in Saudi Arabia forward. This is not a retreat for less competition it is an advance toward something more meaningful.

We see that this move has ripple effects inspiring young players, reshaping perceptions, giving voice to women’s sport in places where it is still emerging. The platform to influence, to leave more than just records, that is what often distinguishes greatness from success.

We believe Plumptre’s story will be remembered not for leaving a familiar league but for building something new, for choosing purpose when she could easily have chosen prestige. Her journey redefines what it means to win.

Did You Know?

1. Ashleigh Plumptre represented England at youth levels including under‑23 before switching allegiance and making her senior debut for Nigeria in 2022.
2. She played every group stage match for Nigeria at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, helping the side reach the knockout rounds.
3. Al‑Ittihad were in the first season of Saudi Arabia’s Women’s Premier League in 2022‑23, finishing fifth in its inaugural campaign.
4. After joining Al‑Ittihad in 2023, Plumptre extended her contract with the club until 2027.
5. Aside from her defensive duties, she has emerged as a goal‑scoring defender in Saudi Arabia bagging multiple braces and hat‑tricks despite her primary role being at the back.