Former Leicester City defender Plumptre joins Al-Ittihad | OneFootball

Former Leicester City defender Ashleigh Plumptre has announced the news that she has completed a move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad.

The player joins her new club on a free transfer after leaving former club Leicester City at the end of last season.

Plumptre spent three-and-a-half years with Leicester City. She helped the club to win the 2020/2021 Barclays Women’s Championship title before playing an important role for the team in the top tier.

On the international stage, Plumptre is a Nigerian international. She starred for The Super Falcons at this summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 as the nation caused an upset in qualifying from their group.

The player has raised eyebrows with her move to new club Al-Ittihad. She follows a number of high-profile male players in making the move to Saudi Arabia this summer.

Speaking after sealing her move to Al-Ittihad, Plumptre said “Football for me has always been about not just connecting with myself but with the people I am surrounded by, whether that’s my teammates or staff. Throughout everything I’ve done in my career so far, it has been about representing something bigger than myself.

“Joining Al-Ittihad, I feel as if I’m going to have so many opportunities both on and off the pitch to be able to learn about football here. I come here with no expectations; I come here being myself and I hope that I can learn and take so much from the environment, both as a football player but more importantly, as a human-being and I’m already feeling that.

“I’m just looking forward to getting the journey started with this team and seeing what we can achieve in every aspect.”

Plumptre becomes the first player from the Barclays Women’s Super League to play in Saudi Arabia.