Ashleigh Plumptre: I didn't see it coming — Nigerians react to Super Falcons star joining Al Ittihad

Super Falcons defender Ashleigh Plumptre has completed a move to Al-Ittihad Ladies in the Saudi Women’s Premier League, and the transfer has been met with shock and congratulations by Nigerian fans. 

The 25-year-old was among the Nigerian contingent at the recently concluded women’s World Cup. She was one of the standout performers, starting all four of the Super Falcons’ matches in the tournament. 

Plumptre ended her four-year association with Leicester City before the tournament, and her performance in Australia and New Zealand generated buzz over her next destination.

With the tournament ended, it became time for the defender to decide on her next club. She had seemingly been in conversations with clubs and had made her pick but kept her cards close to her chest.

When asked by Channels a few weeks ago, she said: "I'm really excited. I feel like, um, I've chosen somewhere that aligns with it. It always has to come down to this for me, like it has to align with who I am as a person.

The Al Itiithad ladies have now announced that they have completed her signing using a captivating video.

Plumptre’s performance at the World Cup was such that she was expected to join one of the top European teams in the women’s game, so her move to a league founded as recently as 2020 came as a shock to many.

Many Nigerians on the X social media platform were thrilled for her, and despite being taken aback by the move, they congratulated her in numbers.