Al-Ittihad Ladies has announced a two-year contract extension for Super Falcons defender Ashleigh Megan Plumptre on Wednesday to keep her at the Saudi Arabian club until 2027, MySportDab Reports
The 26-year-old signed for Al-Ittihad in summer 2023 when her contract with Leicester City Women in the Women’s Super League came to an end.
Plumptre’s versatility shone through quickly, as she settled in to start games and establish herself as a key defender at the Jeddah-based side.
The club announced the renewal of the contract via an official statement on their social media, where they quoted their CEO, Domingos Oliveira, who lauded Plumptre’s contributions to the team and potential. “The re-signing of Ashley Plumptre is in line with the club’s strategy to keep outstanding players who are hungry to develop and win with us. We wish her and her teammates more successes that make our fans happy,” Oliveira said.
Plumptre featured for Nigeria at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, where Nigeria played four matches, with Plumptre appearing in all the games for the Super Falcons. Her showings at the tournament also helped cement her reputation on the world stage.
She also missed out on the tournament after having surgery that kept her out for several months, although she did play a key part in Nigeria qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympics — their first since 2008.
The former Nigeria international’s move to Al-Ittihad demonstrates her rising clout in Saudi Arabia’s women’s football ecosystem. Her leadership and talent will no doubt help Al-Ittihad pursue bigger goals in the next seasons.