Esther González’s sudden move from Gotham FC to Saudi Arabia’s Al Qadsiah has prompted questions about whether she genuinely intended to take a break from football when she left the US club in July. The transfer matters because Gotham reportedly did not expect her to join another team so quickly, potentially leaving the club without a transfer fee and raising concerns about professional trust.

González, 33, had become a key Gotham player, helping win two championships and setting the club scoring record before departing nine days later to address “personal matters” in Spain. Her decision also unsettles some LGBTQ+ supporters, as she has a female partner while same-sex relations are criminalised in Saudi Arabia; however, the move may reflect the higher wages available in the state-backed Saudi Women’s Premier League and the NWSL’s salary-cap constraints.