Esther Gonzalez signs with Al Qadsiah amid fan backlash

Esther Gonzalez has signed with Saudi Women's Premier League club Al Qadsiah following a mutual contract termination with Gotham FC. The Spain forward stated her departure was due to personal matters, but her signing has faced criticism from both Gotham fans and the LGBTQ+ community. Concerns focus on safety issues related to her sexuality in Saudi Arabia, where same-sex relationships are illegal. Gonzalez has since deleted photos of her wife and child from social media, raising further questions about her motivations for the move. The club finished fourth in the league last season.

• 8:52 AMBBC Sport — Fan backlash as gay World Cup star joins Saudi club