Ashleigh Megan Plumptre, born May 8, 1998, better known as Ashleigh Plumptre, is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for the Nigeria national team. Having previously represented England at the youth level, she made her senior debut for Nigeria in February 2022.
Ashleigh Plumptre Bio:
| Full Name: | Ashleigh Megan Plumptre |
| Date of Birth: | May 8, 1998 |
| Place of Birth: | Leicester, England |
| State of Origin: | Leicester |
| Nationality: | Nigerian-English |
| Occupation: | Footballer |
| Net Worth: | $1.5 million |
| Husband/Boyfriend: | Single |
Early Life and Education
Ashleigh Plumptre was born in Leicester where she spent her formative years and attended primary school in Melton Mowbray.
Her football journey began at the tender age of 4 when she joined Asfordby Amateurs. By the age of 8, she was already part of Leicester City Centre of Excellence, and she remained with the club for seven years, progressing through the under-10 to under-15 levels.
In 2013, Plumptre made the switch to Birmingham City’s under-17 team, where she also had the invaluable opportunity to train with the senior WSL 1 team.
A year later, she briefly joined Derby County’s Centre of Excellence, which was part of the third-tier FA Women’s Premier League at the time.
Club Career
In 2014, Plumptre made a significant move to join the ranks of WSL 1 side, Notts County. Her senior debut came on 24 August 2014, when she was substituted in the 57th minute for Caitlin Friend in a match against Liverpool, which ended in a 1–0 defeat.
This debut marked her as the youngest Notts County debutant at just 16 years and 108 days.
Shortly after, she earned her first start in a 1–1 WSL 1 draw with Manchester City on 3 September.
Plumptre’s talents were evident when she appeared as a substitute at the start of extra time during a League Cup semi-final match against Arsenal four days later.
Her journey with Notts County saw her reach important milestones, as she was an unused substitute for the 2015 FA Women’s Cup Final, which was the first final played at Wembley Stadium, on 1 August 2015.
Plumptre scored her first and only goal for Notts County on 30 August 2015, contributing to a 5–0 League Cup group stage victory at home against Yeovil Town.
The club also made it to the League Cup final in 2015, but unfortunately lost to Arsenal 3–0, with Plumptre once again being an unused substitute for the second consecutive cup final.
In December 2019, Plumptre made an important decision, choosing to forgo the 2020 NWSL College Draft despite being projected as a potential late-first round or early-second round pick.
Instead, she returned to England to rejoin her hometown club, Leicester City, in the FA Women’s Championship.
Leicester City reportedly won the race for her signature, beating out competition from FA WSL clubs.
She made her senior debut for Leicester City on 19 January 2020, registering an assist for an Ella Rutherford goal in a 3–1 win against Crystal Palace.
However, her debut season with Leicester was limited to just three league appearances as the season was curtailed due to the coronavirus pandemic, with Leicester being awarded sixth place on a points-per-game basis.
The 2020–21 season brought significant changes for Leicester City Women, as the club was taken over by King Power, becoming fully professional for the first time.
On 4 April 2021, Leicester City clinched the league title with a 2–0 victory over London City Lionesses, securing their twelfth consecutive league victory since a defeat to the same opposition on 1 November 2020.
This achievement earned Leicester their first-ever promotion to the top-flight FA WSL.
Despite a strong recruitment drive to attract WSL talent for the promotion bid, Plumptre remained a key figure in the squad, featuring in all but one game during the title-winning campaign and playing in all four League Cup matches as Leicester reached the knockout stage for the first time, before being defeated in the semi-finals.
Following the expiration of her contract in July 2023, Plumptre parted ways with Leicester City.
International Career
Plumptre’s football journey has seen her represent England at various youth levels, including under-15, under-17, under-19, and under-23 teams. Notably, she featured in two UEFA Women’s Under-17 Championship tournaments in 2014 and 2015.
Primarily playing as a forward or attacking midfielder during her youth career, she showcased her scoring prowess by netting two goals in a commanding 9–0 victory over Moldova in the 2015 UEFA Women’s Under-17 Championship qualifying round.
Plumptre’s talent and potential were evident when, at just 17 years old, she became the youngest player to be selected for the under-23 team, participating in the prestigious 2016 La Manga Tournament, where she gained valuable experience.
Overall, she amassed 30 appearances at the youth level and scored an impressive 10 goals.
In June 2021, Plumptre expressed her interest in representing Nigeria at the senior level, and her wish was granted when she received her first call-up for an eight-day training camp held in Austria the following month.
Her eligibility to play for Nigeria comes from her paternal grandfather, who hails from Lagos, making her an eligible candidate for the Nigerian national team.
Although her initial debut in July 2021 was unofficial, as she started in a 1–0 friendly win against Slovenian club Olimpija Ljubljana, she officially made her debut on 18 February 2022, starting in a 2–0 victory over Ivory Coast during the 2022 Africa Women Cup of Nations qualification.
This marked her official introduction to the Nigerian national team, and she proved her worth on the field.
Her impressive performances and dedication to representing Nigeria caught the attention of the football governing body FIFA, which officially cleared her to play for Nigeria in late December 2021.
This clearance further solidified her commitment to representing the Nigerian national team on the international stage.
As a testament to her skills and achievements, Plumptre was included in the 23-player Nigeria squad for the highly anticipated 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, signifying her vital role in the team’s campaign for glory on the global stage.
Her presence in the squad adds depth and quality to Nigeria’s lineup as they compete against the world’s best in the prestigious tournament.
Ashleigh Plumptre Net Worth
Ashleigh Plumptre is a talented and professional Nigerian-English footballer who has an estimated net worth of $1.5 million.
Personal Life
Ashleigh Plumptre has a Nigerian heritage as her grandfather was born in Nigeria, connecting her to the country’s rich footballing culture.
Despite her strong connection to Nigeria, she grew up supporting Leicester City, her hometown club, and proudly witnessed their triumphant parade after the men’s team secured the remarkable 2015–16 Premier League title victory.
In 2017, Plumptre’s talents and achievements were recognized when she was honored with an invitation to the White House.
This invitation came as part of the celebrations for USC’s National Championship victory, a testament to her outstanding contributions to the sport at the collegiate level.
This special recognition highlights her dedication and exceptional abilities on the football field.
Is Ashleigh Plumptre married? No, she is not yet married and she does not have a boyfriend. Plumptre is single.
