Ashleigh Plumptre joins Saudi club Al-Ittihad as another Falcons star signs MK Dons Women
Ashleigh Plumptre joins Saudi club Al-Ittihad as another Falcons star signs MK Dons Women
Super Falcons defence ace Ashleigh Plumptre has joined Saudi club Al-Ittihad on a free transfer, having left Leicester City.
Plumptre, who played all four Nigeria matches at the Women's World Cup, is one of the Saudi Women's Premier League's most high-profile signings.
A former age-group international with England, she switched allegiance to Nigeria in 2022.
"[I am] excited to start this journey alongside some incredible human beings," the 25-year-old said.
Plumptre started all but two of Leicester's Women's Super League (WSL) games last season as the team finished 10th.
Kelly Lindsey, a former US international who this summer left the role of Lewes FC's head of performance, will be Plumptre's new manager at Al-Ittihad.
Men's Saudi Pro League teams have spent eye-catching sums in the transfer window, with Al-Ittihad's recent additions including Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kante, and this has led to accusations the country is seeking to 'sportswash' its reputation.
Al-Ittihad were one of four Saudi clubs taken over by the country's Public Investment Fund earlier this year.
Peter Hutton, who sits on the Saudi Pro League board, said in August that "changes in the role of women in the Saudi community are remarkable and moving very fast."
Hutton added: "I look at the evidence I see. You've now got 50,000 school girls playing football. You've got 1,000 women coaches. In 2018 there were 750 registered coaches. Now there are over 5,500.
"So you see that as evidence of change, and women's football development as part of societal change. That for me is the real attraction of this project."
Saudi Arabia's women's team entered the Fifa world rankings for the first time earlier this year and the country is bidding to host the 2026 Women's Asia Cup.
Elsewhere, MK Dons Women are delighted to secure the signature of Nigerian international Adekite Fatuga-Dada.
Super Falcon star Fatuga-Dada joins up with Charlie Bill’s squad this week, following the completion of her registration with the Dons for the 2023/24 season.
Fatuga-Dada, 27, boasts an illustrious career to date
, having spent the majority of her time with Championship side, Watford FC Women. The creative forward has represented England at Under-19s level and was a part of Nigeria’s Super Falcons squad for the African Women's World Cup Qualifiers in 2021.
When asked about the latest signing, Head Coach Charlie Bill said: “Ade is another fantastic signing, which signifies the final piece being added to our squad for the 2023/24 season.
“As soon as we caught wind that Ade was moving on from Watford, we were immediately attracted to the idea of providing an environment for her to continue to flourish, and I can’t wait to work with her this season.
“Ade is a player that we know well, having spent numerous seasons attempting the huge task of stopping her while featuring for Watford, which proved to be a near-impossible challenge. In her career, she has had many memorable moments at Stadium MK, and we can’t wait for the players, and supporters to enjoy these together.
“Being able to attract a player of Ade’s calibre from a professional club, just re-enforces the direction that MK Dons Women are constantly working towards.”
Fatuga-Dada joined the Hornets Centre of Excellence at age 12 before enjoying a successful stint at Arsenal Women Under-17s, establishing herself as a pivotal part of their FA Youth Cup winning campaign.
She then returned to Watford, becoming an influential member of the squad on and off the pitch, recognised by her being named PFA Community Champion in 2019/20. Fatuga-Dada became a mainstay in the heart of the Hornets attack before her departure in June, totalling 113 appearances across eight seasons.
