I feel happier, safer as a woman living in Saudi than in UK – Plumptre
For Nigerian international defender Ashleigh Plumptre, life in Saudi Arabia has brought a surprising sense of peace and safety she never fully felt in the United Kingdom. The former Leicester City star, now playing for Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Women’s Premier League, says she feels calmer and more secure as a woman living in Jeddah […]
For Nigerian international defender Ashleigh Plumptre, life in Saudi Arabia has brought a surprising sense of peace and safety she never fully felt in the United Kingdom.
The former Leicester City star, now playing for Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Women’s Premier League, says she feels calmer and more secure as a woman living in Jeddah than she did back home.
“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.
“A friend of mine who was out here, we described it as being like a peace bubble.
“I’ll give an example. I had been to the supermarket and I had all these bags. I live in a compound. I had to take all these bags into the elevator, so I left my car out with the door open, engine on and keys in the car so I could take up my shopping.
“In the UK I would never leave my car out with the keys in. Here I have no problem.
“Naturally everyone is a bit fearful walking around at night, but I don’t have to check my shoulder all the time. I know this is just the perspective of myself, not of everybody who lives here, but with the safety I feel I can’t agree with some of the views the Western world have of this place,” she said.
When the offer first came from Saudi Arabia in 2023, Plumptre’s instinct was to reject it. She wanted a project that valued her both as an athlete and a person. After visiting Jeddah and meeting Al-Ittihad’s management, her perspective changed. She saw a culture eager to grow women’s football and a lifestyle that gave her emotional stability.
Now 27, Plumptre has extended her stay in Saudi Arabia, embracing a quieter, more reflective existence away from the pressures of English football. While she acknowledges the women’s game in Saudi still has a long way to go, she believes progress is being made.
“I’ve found happiness and safety here,” she concluded. “And that’s something I’ll always value.”