Ashleigh Plumptre: The Classy Nigerian Defender

Ashleigh Plumptre is an exciting English-born Nigerian who stunned football fans when she switched her allegiance from England to represent the Nigerian Super Falcons.

She played alongside stars like Alessia Russo, Chloe Kelly and Georgia Stanway in the youth stages of her international career with England. However, her decision to play for Nigeria will see her play alongside “Agba Baller“, one of the greatest African female footballers.

Player Profile – Ashleigh Megan Plumptre

Ashleigh Plumptre, a versatile defender of Nigerian descent with English roots, has established herself as a prominent figure in women’s football.

Born and raised in England, she began her career in club football. She represented the English youth sides before opting to represent Nigeria internationally due to her paternal grandfather’s Nigerian heritage.

Plumptre’s international debut came in 2022, and she played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s campaign at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, showcasing her defensive solidity and helping the team to several clean sheets.

Player Profile Overview

Ashleigh Plumptre’s Early Life and Background

Ashleigh Plumptre was born and raised in England. She is of Nigerian descent through her paternal grandfather, who was Yoruba and hailed from Lagos.

She grew up in Melton, Mowbray, Leicester, where she also attended primary school. Plumptre developed her passion for football at a young age, playing for Asfordsby Amateurs by the age of 4.

From the age of 8, Plumptre spent the next seven years playing for Leicester City Centre of Excellence, from the U10 age level to the U15 age level.

Ashleigh Plumptre’s Playing Style and Strengths

Ashleigh Plumptre is known for her composed and commanding defender style. She excels at reading the game and making timely interceptions.

Plumptre’s physical presence and aerial ability make her a formidable force in defence, while her passing accuracy and ability to build play from the back contribute significantly to her team’s possession game.

She is also noted for her leadership qualities on the field, often organizing the defensive line and providing stability during crucial moments. Overall, Plumptre’s blend of technical skill, tactical awareness, and physicality makes her a key asset in both defensive solidity and initiating attacking moves from defense.

The Emergence of Ashleigh Plumptre

Ashleigh Plumptre started playing football at age 4 with Asfordby Amateurs. At 8, she joined the Leicester City Centre of Excellence and played there for seven years until she reached the under-15 level.

In 2013, Plumptre moved to Birmingham City’s under-17 team, where she trained with the senior WSL 1 team. She was on the move again in 2014, when she briefly joined Derby County’s Centre of Excellence in the third-tier FA Women’s Premier League.

Playing For Notts County

Ashleigh Plumptre joined Women’s Super League 1 side Notts County in 2014 and made her senior debut as a substitute in a 1–0 defeat to Liverpool. Her debut made her the youngest Notts County debutant at 16 years and 108 days.

Plumptre made her first start in a 1–1 draw with Manchester City, and four days later, she appeared as a substitute in a League Cup semi-final defeat to Arsenal. The Nigerian defender was an unused substitute in the 2015 FA Women’s Cup final, the first to be played at Wembley Stadium, losing 1-nil to Emma Hayes‘ Chelsea side.

She scored her first and only goal for Notts County in a 5–0 League Cup victory over Yeovil Town. Notts County reached the League Cup final in 2015, losing to Arsenal 3–0, with Plumptre again an unused substitute.

Ashleigh Plumptre’s American Adventure

After a lack of playing time and a less-than-enjoyable spell with Notts County in the English WSL, Ashleigh Plumptre moved to the United States in 2016 to play college soccer at the University of Southern California (USC).

In her freshman year, she made 17 substitute appearances as a midfielder for the USC Trojans, including in every round of the NCAA postseason. Plumptre played 27 minutes in the College Cup final, helping USC defeat West Virginia 3-1 to win the program’s second national championship.

In 2017, Plumptre scored her first collegiate goal in a 2-1 victory over Washington State. During her sophomore year, she had two starts in 17 appearances. However, she became a regular starter in her junior year, starting 19 out of 20 games.

In 2019, she transitioned to playing centre-back and started all 23 of USC’s games, helping the team reach the NCAA Tournament quarter-finals. Her performances earned her All-Pacific first-team and All-Pac-12 second-team honours.

Academically, Ashleigh Plumptre majored in human biology and received Pac-12 academic recognition in 2017 and 2018. She was named to the 2018 CoSIDA Academic All-District second team and the 2019 United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-America second team.

Brief Spell in Los Angeles

In March 2019, Ashleigh Plumptre signed with LA Galaxy OC to play in the UWS during her college offseason. The team finished second in the West Conference behind Calgary Foothills during the regular season but won the Championship final against the same team.

Ashleigh Plumptre’s Return To England

In December 2019, Ashleigh Plumptre chose not to enter the 2020 NWSL College Draft despite being projected as a late-first or early-second round pick. Instead, she returned to England to play for Leicester City in the FA Women’s Championship.

Leicester City reportedly secured her signature in the FA WSL competition. Plumptre made her senior debut for Leicester City on 19 January 2020, assisting on a goal in a 3-1 win against Crystal Palace.

Her debut season was limited to three league appearances due to the coronavirus pandemic, which cut it short. Leicester finished sixth on a points-per-game basis.

Winning Promotion to the WSL

Ahead of the 2020–21 season, Leicester City Women were taken over by King Power, transitioning from an independent club to a fully professional one.

On 4 April 2021, they secured the league title with a 2–0 win over London City Lionesses, marking their twelfth consecutive league victory and their first-ever promotion to the top-flight FA WSL.

Despite significant summer recruitment during their title-chasing promotion bid, Ashleigh Plumptre remained a key player for Leicester City.

She played in nearly all league and League Cup games, helping Leicester reach the League Cup knockout stage for the first time before losing 1-nil to Bristol City in the semi-finals.

Moving to Saudi Arabia

Plumptre was one of the European players who joined the exodus of stars who were going to ply their trade in Saudi Arabia after the establishment of the Saudi Women’s Premier League.

In 2023, upon the expiration of her contract, she left Leicester City and the WSL to join Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Women’s Premier League. The Super Falcon star enjoyed a memorable start to life as she scored a stunning hattrick for her new side in their season opener.

Ashleigh Plumptre’s International Career

Ashleigh Plumptre has represented England at various youth levels, including U15, U17, U19, and U23. She participated in the 2014 and 2015 UEFA Women’s Under-17 Championships.

However, during her time with the national youth sides, she started playing for them as a forward or attacking midfielder. Plumptre scored twice in a 9-0 victory over Moldova in the 2015 UEFA Women’s Under-17 Championship qualifiers.

At 17, she was the youngest player in the under-23 squad for the 2016 La Manga Tournament. Overall, she made 30 appearances at the youth level, scoring ten goals.

Switching International Allegiance to Represent the Super Falcons of Nigeria

Ashleigh Plumptre expressed interest in representing Nigeria in June 2021 due to her paternal grandfather’s Yoruba heritage, who is from Lagos, Nigeria, making her eligible.

Plumptre received her first call-up in July 2021 for a training camp in Austria and unofficially debuted in a friendly match. After attending a training camp in Nigeria and receiving FIFA clearance in December 2021, she officially debuted in February 2022 during the qualification for the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations.

Playing in the World Cup against Her Country of Birth.

Ashleigh Plumptre was subsequently included in Nigeria’s squad for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, starting all four games. She featured alongside Asisat Oshoala, Rasheedat Ajibade and Chiamaka Nnadozie during the global showpiece for Nigeria with several impressive performances.

She was the heart of the defence, playing in all three group-stage matches and contributing to three clean sheets at the tournament. During the tournament, Nigeria notably beat Australia in the group stage and finished second in Group B, above Canada and the Republic of Ireland.

Plumptre helped Nigeria keep a clean sheet against her country of birth in the round of 16. Nigeria played a goalless draw with the Lionesses of England. Lauren James received a red card for stamping on Nigeria’s Michelle Alozie in that match. However, England eliminated Plumptre and the Super Falcons on penalties after a goalless draw.

Plumptre suffered a serious injury that will keep her out of the Paris 2024 Olympics, where the Super Falcons will represent Africa in the football event.

Off the Field: Ashleigh Plumptre

Ashleigh Plumptre has a sister, Bayleigh Plumtre and a stepmother Jo Plumtre. Her father, Tim Plumptre and her family have always supported and encouraged the Super Falcon star in the pursuit of her dreams on the football pitch.

Conclusion

Ashleigh Plumptre’s journey from her roots in England to becoming a key figure in Nigerian women’s football exemplifies the power of heritage and determination.

Her defensive skills, leadership, and composure on the field have not only strengthened Nigeria’s national team but also highlighted her as a prominent talent in international football.

Plumptre’s commitment to her dual heritage and her contributions to the sport continue to inspire aspiring footballers globally, underscoring the impact of cultural identity and dedication in achieving greatness on the world stage.