Nigerian international and Al-Ittihad defender Ashleigh Plumptre says she feels “safer and happier” living and playing football in Saudi Arabia than she did in the United Kingdom, as she seeks to challenge long-held perceptions of life for women in the Middle East.
Plumptre, who joined Al-Ittihad in 2023 after leaving her childhood club Leicester City, made history as the first player to move from the English Women’s Super League (WSL) to the Saudi Women’s Premier League (SWPL). Initially hesitant about the move, she said the opportunity became compelling after visiting Jeddah and experiencing the culture firsthand.
“When the offer came in from Saudi Arabia, my first instinct was to say no,” Plumptre recalled during an interview with the BBC. “But after spending time here and seeing the environment for myself, I realized it was something I wanted to be part of, a new project that values me as a person as much as a footballer.”
Now, two years later, the 26-year-old defender has signed a contract extension with Al-Ittihad and says her experience in Saudi Arabia has been transformative both professionally and personally.
“I know international players, members of my family and friends who have come out here who genuinely feel safer here and calmer than in the UK,” she said. “A friend of mine who was out here described it as being like a peace bubble.”
Sharing a personal anecdote, Plumptre compared the sense of safety she feels in Jeddah to her experience back home.
“I once left my car outside with the door open, engine on, and keys inside just so I could carry my shopping upstairs. In the UK, I would never do that,” she said. “Here, I have no problem doing so.”
Plumptre emphasized that while experiences differ, her own has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Naturally, everyone is a bit cautious walking around at night, but I don’t have to constantly look over my shoulder here,” she added. “I understand this is my personal experience, not everyone’s, but with the safety I feel, I can’t agree with some of the negative views the Western world holds about this place.”
Her comments come as Saudi Arabia continues to invest heavily in women’s sports, part of broader efforts under Vision 2030, the kingdom’s reform agenda aimed at diversifying the economy and expanding social freedoms.
For Plumptre, the move represents an opportunity to reshape narratives about women, sport, and culture in Saudi Arabia.
“I wanted to be part of something that’s growing,” she said. “And what I’ve found here is peace, respect, and purpose.”
