Super Falcons defender Ashleigh Plumptre has revealed that her decision to join Saudi Arabian club Al Ittihad was heavily influenced by her father, who encouraged her to embrace the opportunity to play in a growing football culture.
Plumptre, who made headlines with her high-profile move to the Saudi Women’s Premier League in 2023, shared in a recent interview that her father’s belief in the country’s evolving football project played a major role in her final decision.
Speaking to BBC Sport, the hard-tackling defender said that she was first hesitant about the transfer until she spoke with the club’s management and went to Saudi Arabia.
“I spoke to some teams in the UK, US, and Europe, and then Dad said there was a team in Saudi Arabia who are interested in you. I was shocked. My initial reaction was ‘no,’ but I wanted to give them a chance.”
“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. We barely even spoke about football, but about ourselves and what we were passionate about.
“I’m someone who goes off feeling and intuition. But I wanted to go out and visit—I wanted to see what it was really like. I visited for two days and really liked it, and when I left there, I thought, ‘This is where I want to be.’”
The 26-year-old defender has since become one of Al Ittihad’s standout players, earning praise for her leadership, versatility, and composure at the back. Beyond football, Plumptre says she’s been inspired by the country’s cultural shift and the enthusiasm for women’s sports.
“It’s been such a unique experience—not just on the pitch but in seeing how football is bringing people together,” she added. “There’s a lot of respect and excitement around what we’re building here.”
