Soccer Football - FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 - Group B - Nigeria v Canada - Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne, Australia - July 21, 2023 Nigeria's Ashleigh Plumptre in action REUTERS/Hannah Mckay/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 14 (Reuters) - Nigeria defender Ashleigh Plumptre said she has joined Saudi Women's Premier League side Al-Ittihad following the expiry of her contract at Leicester City. She played for England at youth level before switching allegiance and making her Nigeria debut in 2022. "Grateful to have signed for Al-Ittihad," Plumptre said on messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter. The Saudi women's top flight is gearing up for its second season, with eight teams vying for the title. Saudi men's Pro League teams have been spending huge sums to attract some of the best players from European clubs, including Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema.

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Persons: Nigeria's Ashleigh Plumptre, Hannah Mckay, Ashleigh Plumptre, Plumptre, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Pearl Josephine Nazare, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Soccer Football, FIFA, Saudi Women's Premier League, Al, Leicester City, England, Saudi, Saudi men's Pro League, Neymar, Saudi Arabia Crown, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Nigeria, Canada, Melbourne, Australia, Ittihad, Saudi Arabia, Bengaluru