Super Falcons defender Ashleigh Plumptre parts ways with Leicester City on eve of World Cup

SUPER Falcons defender Ashleigh Plumptre is to leave the Leicester City Women's team following the end of the season on a shock development that has seen her and the club part ways just as she heads for the World Cup with Nigeria.

Plumptre, 25, played an important role for Leicester City last season as the club secured a dramatic escape from relegation to the Barclays Women’s Championship. Her departure from the King Power Stadium thus comes as something of a surprise, particularly as she is one of the club's internationals.

Last season, Plumptre, a centreback of mixed parentage but opted to play for Nigeria ahead of England and made her Super Falcons debut in 2022. A former England youth teamer, she was a key member of the Nigeria squad that qualified for the 2023 Women's World Cup and is currently with the team for the tournament which starts later this month.

Plumptre made 20 appearances for The Foxes in the Barclays Women’s Super League in 2022/23, scoring one goal. A Leicester spokesman said: "LCFC Women would like to thank Ashleigh for her contribution during the last four seasons and wish her well in the next phase of her career."

Her next career move is not yet known, particularly as the player is now just a matter of days away from representing Nigeria at the Fifa Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. This tournament should provide Plumptre with an opportunity to put herself in the shop window.