"In 2023 the defender's contract was coming to an end at childhood club Leicester City and she was looking for a new project, something to inspire her and where she would feel valued as a person as well as a footballer. And after negotiations and a visit to the Middle East, the Nigeria international decided to take the plunge and become the first player to move from the Women's Super League (WSL) to the Saudi Women's Premier League (SWPL)."
"So when her father Tim, who is also her agent, told her of an approach by Al-Ittihad, she decided to give them a chance despite initial misgivings. "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.""
Ashleigh Plumptre left Leicester City in 2023 and became the first player to transfer from the Women's Super League to the Saudi Women's Premier League, signing with Al-Ittihad. She later signed a contract extension and aims to challenge Western preconceptions about life for female athletes in Saudi Arabia. She regrets losing trust from some LGBT fans and recognizes that Saudi women's football needs development on and off the pitch. The SWPL launched in 2022 as a fully professional competition with 24 teams in a three-tier pyramid and allows clubs to sign up to six foreign players.
Read at www.bbc.com
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