Ashleigh Plumptre: Al-Ittihad players welcome Super Falcons star with beating

Nigeria Super Falcons defender Ashleigh Plumptre was welcomed by her Al-Ittihad teammates in a special way. 

Plumptre joined up for her first training session following a free transfer to the Saudi Arabian side. 

The England-born defender joined the club following the expiration of her contract with English club, Leicester City Women. 

The Super Falcons defender joined the Yellows who already have big names like ex-Chelsea hero N’Golo Kante and former Liverpool star Fabinho as players who had swapped England for Saudi Arabia.

Plumptre, 25, proved reliable as Nigeria’s Super Falcons reached the last 16 of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, FIFAWWC, co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia. 

The defender featured from start to finish as the multiple African champions delivered a surprise performance in Australia. 

She helped the Falcons keep three clean sheets in four matches for the first time in Nigeria’s history at the FIFAWWC while playing her best against England before Nigeria crashed out. 

It was that performance in Australia that has now led to the move to Saudi Arabia, which she says is more than football.

After she was unveiled and presented as a new Al-Ittihad player, the England-born star trained with her new teammates for the first time.

But just before the training, she was welcomed to the team with special beating by her teammates.

Al-Ittihad took to their socials to share pictures of the moment alongside other new signings with a simple message. 

“Welcoming Ashleigh in the manner of the ladies of the Dean,” the club posted. “A warm welcome to Ittihad’s newest member Ashleigh,” they added.