Spain forward Esther Gonzalez has faced criticism after joining Saudi Women’s Premier League club Al Qadsiah.
The 33 year old completed the move after leaving Gotham FC in July.
According to BBC, the transfer has led to criticism from some Gotham supporters and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Gonzalez had more than a year left on her Gotham contract when the two sides agreed to end it.
At the time, the NWSL club said Gonzalez wanted to step away from football to deal with personal matters in Spain.
The forward also explained her departure on Instagram.
She said the decision came “due to strictly personal reasons”. She added that Gotham would “always hold a special place in my heart”.
However, Al Qadsiah announced her signing on Sunday.
The move led some Gotham supporters to question the way her departure from the American club had been explained.
Some fans also pointed out that Gotham did not receive a transfer fee after ending her contract.
Gonzalez has also faced criticism from members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Same sex relationships and sexual activity are illegal in Saudi Arabia.
Spanish outlet El Mundo reported that Gonzalez has removed photos of herself with her wife and their first child from her social media accounts since joining Al Qadsiah. Their child was born in January.
Gonzalez is not the first high profile footballer to face criticism after moving to Saudi Arabia.
Former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson received a similar reaction when he joined Al Ettifaq in 2023.
Henderson had previously publicly supported the LGBTQ+ community.
Openly gay footballer Jake Daniels described Henderson’s move to Saudi Arabia as a “slap in the face”.
Henderson left Al Ettifaq after six months.
Gonzalez arrives in Saudi Arabia after a successful spell in the United States.
She joined Gotham from Real Madrid and spent three seasons with the club.
The Spain international won two NWSL titles during that period. She also won the NWSL Challenge Cup and the Concacaf W Champions Cup.
Gonzalez was part of the Spain team that won the 2023 Women’s World Cup. She also helped her country reach the Euro 2025 final.
Her new club Al Qadsiah finished fourth in the Saudi Women’s Premier League last season.
